Spanish Settlements

Missions  Spain’s main way of colonizing  Expected to support themselves  First in west Texas  Later in east Texas  Eventually central Texas (San Antonio)  Used to convert Native Americans to Catholicism  Thought to make good citizens to Spain

Towns  Built around missions  Colonists brought in so missions could grow and survive  First successful town was in San Antonio

Ranches  Most important aspect for missions and towns to survive  Cattle were easier to raise and protect than farming

Corpus Christi de la Ysleta  1682  First permanent Spanish settlement  Located near El Paso

San Francisco de los Tejas  1690  First east Texas settlement  Located near Palestine  Failed because of drought and disease

San Juan Bautista  1699  Near Eagle Pass  Was very successful because of ranching and farming  Grew into a presidio and town  Known as “Mother of Missions”

San Fernando de Bexar- (San Antonio)  1718  Half way point between Mexico and east Texas missions  Camino Real  Became Texas capitol in 1722

Mission San Antonio de Valero  Located in San Antonio  Chapel is the Alamo

How they lived  Colonial Homes-built from timber and rocks  Dog Run Homes-built with a breezeway for shade and to catch the breeze  Furniture-made from natural resources in the area  Buckskin Clothes-made from deer hide  Water Wells-built to acquire water near their home  Food-killed animals and grew crops

Spanish Influence  Amarillo-means yellow in Spanish  Was the color of the wildflowers  Rio Grande-means “Big River” in Spanish  Vaquero-Spanish word for cowboy  Rodeo-a sport based on the skills of vaqueros