1. Do Now: Imagine that you have been sent to establish a settlement in an area that your country wants to claim. After interviewing inhabitants of the area, you find the remains of an earlier colony. Upon your return, you are asked whether you think your own country should establish settlements in the same area. How would you respond? Why?

2. Objective: SWBAT describe important individuals of European colonization of Texas, including: Fray Damian Massanet and Francisco Hidalgo.

3. Hook:

4. The Race to Claim Texas: Spain moved throughout the 1700’s to colonize Texas as a buffer between Spanish Mexico and French Louisiana. General Alonso de Leon and Father Damian Massanet explored East Texas to ensure the French and LaSalle were no more.  Massanet named the friendly Indians the “Tejas”, meaning friendly.  Both report the land good, and natives ready to be converted.

5. Spain Begins Building Missions: Massanet gets permission to colonize and convert the Indians of East Texas. In 1690, Massanet and DeLeon establish Mission San Francisco de los Tejas, the first mission in East Texas. Soon, both Spaniards and Indians were dying of disease, but all seemed calm.

6. Spain’s First Missions Fail: Disease and drought caused the first Missions to fail. Natives became resentful of the Catholic Priests. Constant supplies to the Missions were impossible. Hostile Natives, France no longer being a threat, and the expense caused abandonment

7. The French Return: In 1699, France returned to the areas with colonies at Biloxi and Mobile. In 1714, after Spanish denials to his request, Father Francisco Hidalgo contacts the French Governor of Louisiana to start a new mission in East Texas. Louis de St. Denis visits Hidalgo at Mission San Juan Bautista to work out the details

8. An Unlikely Partnership: Spain was against any Frenchman in Spanish Territory. Denis was in trouble. Captain Diego Ramon, commander of the presidio, arrests Denis at the mission, and sent him to the Viceroy in Mexico City.  Presidio = A military post or fortified settlement in an area under Spanish control. Denis convinces everyone that France has no eyes for Texas. Denis is freed and leads a Spanish expedition back to East Texas.

9. Spain Reclaims East Texas: The expedition establishes several new missions in 1716. Spain decides to set up a central rest stop for supply caravans from Mexico to the East Texas Missions along the San Antonio River. May 1, 1718: Mission San Antonio de Valero is established.  Also, Presidio San Antonio de Bexar is established for protection.  These would eventually become San Antonio.

10. Spain vs. France: Food and supplies at the East Texas missions began to run out. 1719: France and Spain go to war.  7 Louisiana soldiers from the French fort at Natchitoches attempt to capture Spanish mission at Nacogdoches. Some Spanish officials escaped the attack by the French. Rumors spread of a great French invasion. Spaniards flee to safety at San Antonio. Spain had looked foolish surrendering Texas to 7 French soldiers, and vow to take East Texas back. Spain seeks vengeance and regains control of Texas.

11. Let’s Make a Foldable: 1. Begin as if you were going to make a hot dog fold but instead of creasing the paper, pinch it to show the midpoint. 2. Fold the outer edges of the paper to meet at the pinch, or mid-point, forming a shutter fold. 3. Label the left side as Fray Damian Massanet. 4. Label the right side as Father Francisco Hidalgo.