1. Spanish Missions Come to Texas
Spain’s Method for Colonizing Texas

2. The Mission System Missions were Spain’s way of colonizing Texas
Each mission was expected to be able to support itself
The first mission was established in the El Paso area
The Spanish next established missions in East Texas
Finally the Spanish built missions in the present day San Antonio area

3. Corpus Christi de Ysleta
First Spanish mission in Texas
Built near present day El Paso
The mission had a hard time surviving because:
The arid climate made farming difficult
The Native Americans did not want to give up their free lifestyle in favor of the more structured mission life

4. San Francisco de los Tejas
First Spanish mission in East Texas – close to the present day Louisiana – Texas border
The mission had a hard time surviving because:
Disease
Droughts
Famine
Caddo did not want to give up their lifestyle and culture to adopt the mission lifestyle

5. The Gateway Missions
First was San Juan Bautista – just south of the Rio Grande in Mexico
Two other missions soon followed
These missions were successful because:
They were able to develop large farms and ranches that were used to support the mission inhabitants

6. San Antonio de Valero
Built as a stopping point between the Gateway missions and the East Texas missions- on the El Camino Real
El Camino Real – the Royal Road – that connected San Francisco de los Tejas and the Gateway missions
Built near present day San Antonio
It’s large farms and cattle ranches were used to help support the East Texas missions

7. San Antonio de Bexar
The presidio – Spanish military fort – was built just down the river from San Antonio de Valero
Its purpose was to protect those living in the mission

8. Villa de Bexar
Became the Spanish civil settlement – town for those who did not live at the mission or fort
In 1731 the Spanish government made plans to bring 15 families from the Canary Islands to the San Antonio area to begin the colonization process of Texas