1. Ch. 7 - LIFE IN SPANISH TEXAS The Five Missions of San Antonio
The Alamo (1718)
San Jose (1720)
Photo Credits: The photograph of the Alamo is provided courtesy Roger Burgess. Images of missions San Jose, San Juan, Concepcion, and Espada are provided courtesy the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Concepcion (1731)
Espada (1731)
San Juan (1731)

2. Daily Life in the Mission
Morning Prayers
Instruction in the Catholic faith
Breakfast
Work all day in the fields, kitchen, or in the workshops
Lunch and rest for a couple of hours
Work until sunset in the fields, kitchen or workshop.
Dinner
More prayers and instructions in the Catholic faith.
Bed time

3. The Native Texans that became part of the mission were often punished by the priest if they did not follow rules.
One of the few tribes that did convert was the Coahuiltecans in South Texas. (San Antonio Missions)

4. Mission Government: Based on the Spanish system.
Each mission was independent of one another with limited powers.
Native Americans who had special skills were trusted by the mission leaders to represent the different tribes.
Natives had their own jail and could determine punishment.
There were Natives who instructed other Natives on how to work in the fields or workshops.
Natives did not always have much freedom. They were expected to stay in the mission, learn the Spanish language, and the Catholic religion and to do whatever the soldiers and priests instructed them to do.

5. The front of Mission Concepción near San Antonio
Spanish Texans
The Franciscan order of the Catholic Church ran the Missions.
The Indians who were converted began living the “Spanish way of life”
The front of Mission Concepción near San Antonio

6. The San Antonio Missions

7. The Espada Dam was constructed in 1745
By 1800, only about 3,500 colonists were living in Texas. Most lived in San Antonio and Nacogdoches.
The Spanish also developed towns near Presidio La Bahia (Near Victoria) and Nuevo Santander (Near Laredo).
These towns used whatever they could find to create buildings and they often dug acequias (canals) to bring water to the towns.
The best preserved of the San Antonio acequias is the one near Mission Espada
The Espada Dam was constructed in 1745

8. = Spanish Government ALCALDE
The alcalde was the name for the Spanish official that acted as a mayor, sheriff and judge for the town.
The ayuntamiento was the name for the town council.

9. Life in Towns:
People in towns usually were made up of former presidio soldiers and native Texans that had adapted to Spanish life. They were usually uneducated, as only priest and government officials were literate (could read).
Women in the towns were important as they helped with farm and ranch duties as well as preparing food, making clothes, and teaching morals and values to children.
Married women in Texas were able to keep property they owned before they were married and owned property separate from their husbands.

10. Pobladores (towns people) celebrated with horse racing, dances, singing, and telling folk tales.
Life in a town could be very hard. There was always the threat of attack.
In addition, without running water, sewage was a problem, and therefore disease was always a threat. Muddy streets and standing water helped mosquitoes thrive.

11. Ruins of a Spanish Colonial Hacienda in Zapata county
Haciendas
Some settlers started Haciendas, which is a ranch in Spanish territory
Ranching took hold in Texas because it was easier than farming. it took only a few workers to man a ranch.
Ruins of a Spanish Colonial Hacienda in Zapata county

12. The Spanish Vaqueros were the original cowboys.
Spain began to encourage the cattle industry by given land grants to cattle ranchers.
The vaqueros (cowboys) developed many techniques still used today to control livestock.
The Spanish Vaqueros were the original cowboys.

13. End of the Missions and Preservation
By the early 1800’s the Franciscans secularized (turned over control) the missions to the Hispanic townspeople of Texas.
The Missions fell into disrepair.
In the early 1900’s, Adina de Zavala led an effort to save them.
They became part of the National Park system in 1975
Adina de Zavala