European Exploration in Texas France Versus Spain!!

Alonso Alvarez de Piñeda In 1519, Piñeda sailed along the Texas coast toward Mexico. He created the first maps and charts of the coast. Because of Piñeda, future explorers knew where to sail to get to Texas.

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca In 1529, Cabeza de Vaca crashed on Galveston Island because of a hurricane. He was captured by an Indian tribe. Cabeza de Vaca was able to heal many Indians. Cabeza was the first European to explore the interior of Texas. In Mexico, Cabeza told others about the native legend of seven cities of gold called Cibola.

Francisco Vásquez de Coronado In 1540, Coronado was placed in charge of a great search to find the City of Gold. He only found Native American villages. Coronado went into west Texas and saw the Palo Duro Canyon.

Palo Duro Canyon

LaSalle France wanted to claim the area around the Mississippi river before the Spanish got there. In 1684, the French King, Louis XIV, gave LaSalle ships and colonists to set sail. LaSalle’s group missed the Mississippi river and actually landed near Matagorda Bay, Texas. LaSalle set up Fort St. Louis in 1865.

Spain vs France Texas lays between Spanish Mexico and French Louisiana. After La Salle established Ft. St. Louis, Spain had a renewed interest in exploration of Texas Spain’s goal was to find and destroy La Salle’s fort. Spain found the fort abandoned and in ruins. Result: Many French colonists relocated to Canada.

Chicken war France sends six soldiers under the command of Blondel to capture Spanish missions in east Texas. The few priests and friars living at the mission were no match for the French troops. The French loot the mission-taking livestock and other items of value As Blondel got on his horse to leave, the chickens began flapping around, and Blondel’s horse threw him from it. As soldiers scrambled to help Blondel, the Spaniards got away.

Results of Chicken War The Spanish priests exaggerate the story, saying a French fleet came and attacked the mission, and were invading Texas Significance of Chicken War: Spain retreated from Texas and the “war” showed Spain had a weak hold in east Texas