1. The Spanish Colonial Period
Spanish Missions

2. Why were the missions created?
The La Salle expedition alerted Spain to France’s interest in Texas. The Spanish decided that if they were kept Texas, they must occupy it.
Spanish missions and settlements provided a stronger hold on Texas than did the French traders.

3. Mission v. Presidio MISSIONS
were built by Spain to establish control of what is now Texas
Spread Catholicism to the native population. (GOD, Gold, Glory)
Populate Texas
People living in the Missions were religious officials such as fathers, monks.
PRESIDIOS military outpost; built by Spain to protect the Missions.

4. Spanish Missions in Texas
Mission Corpus Christi de la Ysleta – 1682 – 1st permanent settlement of Europeans in Texas
Mission San Francisco de los Tejas – 1690 – 1st Spanish mission in East Texas
Mission San Antonio de Valero (Alamo) – 1718 – built to be a half-way point between New Spain and the missions of East Texas.
Presidio San Antonio de Bexar – 1718 – built to protect San Antonio de Valero

5. Mission San Antonio de Valero (1718)
The most successful presidio was San Antonio de Valero. which was built in 1718 for two reasons:
Spanish officials saw the need for a settlement midway between New Spain (Mexico) and the East Texas missions 500 miles north. Travel between the Rio Grande and East Texas was dangerous and supplies arrived slowly.
East Texas settlers and missions at time had no choice but to trade with the French in Louisiana, increasing concerns in New Spain about the French interest in Texas.
Many of the most successful missions in Texas were located near Bexar which provided protection for the priest & Native Americans.

6. Other significant North American settlements
1607 – First permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown, Virginia. It was established to make money for England by discovering gold. The first Spanish settlement in Texas was the Mission Corpus Christi de le Ysleta. It was set up to establish Spain’s claim to Texas and convert the Native Americans to Catholicism.
1620 – Signing of the Mayflower Compact by the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts. This document set out laws and rules to be followed by the settlers for the good of the colony. Settlers were required to sign the Compact which also confirmed their loyalty to the King of England. It was basically the first form of representative government in the New World. This can be compared to contract Stephen F. Austin’s settlers were required to sign in order to move to Texas in the early 1820s.

7. Signiant Leader- Francisco Hidalgo
He set up the First mission in East Texas called Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas
He remained at the mission until the Chicken War of 1719.
After the war he took up residence at San Antonio de Valero Mission

8. Signiant Leader- Fray Damian Massanet
He went on expeditions in and 1690
He described his encounters with American Indian Tribes, and described their houses, clothing, food and customs

9. Signiant Leader- Jose de Escandon
Known as “The Father of South Texas”.
The Spanish King sent him to Texas and Northern Mexico to create settlements.
He arrived in the area in 1746 with thousands of settlers and soldiers.
Many of his settlements are still operating as cities in Mexico and Texas today.

10. Signiant Leader- Antonio Margil de Jesus
His first attempt to create missions in Texas failed. After the Chicken war he was forced to abandon his missions in North East Texas.
He relocated to San Antonio and founded the most successful mission - San Jose y San Miquel de Aguayo
The Mission held up to 350 Native American settlers.
To this day the San Jose church is still active.

11. Positive and Negative consequences of the Missions
•The Spanish taught the Native Americans how to build the missions and irrigate the land.
Irrigation allowed the Native Texans to farm in arid regions.
Native Texans were introduced to weapons in the presidios protecting the missions. Many will later use weapons against Spanish settlements.
In addition, the Spanish attempts to Christianize the Native Texans often resulted in negative consequences like the spread of disease.

12. How successful were the Spanish missions?
The Spanish colonized Texas in order to maintain their control of Texas and to Christianize the natives, the French were basically interested in trading with the natives in Texas.
This difference in motivation explains why the French had a more successful relationship with the Native Texans. The French basically wanted to trade and the Spanish wanted to control the land and its inhabitants.