1. West Texas Missions
1598 Spain decided to establish a colony in their northern territories.
Don Juan de Onate set out with 400 men, families, priests, and livestock settled in New Mexico.
In 1682, the Spaniards established the first Texas missions of Corpus Christi de Ysleta in present-day El Paso.

2. West Texas Missions
The purpose of the mission was to spread Christianity to the Jumanos and other Native Americans in the area and to make a claim on the region.
The mission was successful and Spain decided to build more in the area.

3. West Texas Missions

4. Corpus Christi de Ysleta
Built in 1682.
First mission in Texas
Built among the Tigua Indians near present-day El Paso

5. Jose de Escandon ( )
In the 1740’s the viceroy of New Spain chose Escandon to lead an expedition to continue expansion in the northern frontier (Texas).
In 1748, Escanondon set out with 3000 settlers, soldiers, and priests to settle the land between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River.
15 missions were established in this area, La Bahia was relocated to present day Goliad, and many towns were established through out Nuevo Santander (present-day Larado)
Known as “Father of the Lower Rio Grande Valley”

6. West Texas Problems/Solutions
Spain continued to build missions in western Texas but the war-like Indians continued to cause problems for the Spanish
Most Indian groups did not want to participate in mission life, but Comanche raids were too great threat for many of the Indians in western Texas.
Groups like the Tonkawa and other smaller groups were no match for the Comanche and they needed protection.
Missions provided protection for the smaller groups.

7. East Texas Missions
After the Spanish found the remains of French Fort St. Louis, Spain sent several priests and 100 soldiers along the Neches River to establish missions
Mission San Francisco de los Tejas and Santisimo Nombre de Maria were built in East Texas.
Mission Santa Maria was abandoned due to the priest becoming ill and dying.
Spaniards believed that the friendliness of the Caddoes and their trade network would allow the mission to survive and the Catholic religion to spread among the native groups

8. Circle the area on YOUR map EAST TEXAS MISSIONS

9. Nuestro San Francisco de los Tejas
1690
First mission in East Texas
Located among the Caddo
Near present-day Weches, TX (Crockett)
Later abandoned and destroyed

10. East Texas Problems
1691 problems included crop failures, drought, and Native American deaths due to disease, and lack of interest by the Natives to convert to the Catholic religion
Spain decided to abandon the east Texas missions due to cost to maintain, French threat was gone, and all of the serious problems

11. East Texas Missions II
After 20 years, the Spanish returned to East Texas due to the French threat.
In 1699, the French began building trading posts in Louisiana Territory, way too close for Spain.
Spain decided to reopen the east Texas missions.
The missions once again were not successful.
The east Texas Indians saw no benefit to having access to the mission and the French were too great a threat to Spain in east Texas.

12. Father Massenet
Wrote a report to establish a claim in East Texas with missions
Given permission to colonize the “land of the Tejas” with several priests and soldiers along the Neches River
Built the first mission in East Texas with the Nabedache Indians (Caddo)
Massenet returned to Mexico City to encourage more missions to be built in Texas But decided to close the missions due to all the problems

13. Father Francisco Hidalgo (1659-1726)
In 1699, he tried to reestablish the East Texas missions.
He was worried his flock and asked the French priests to check on the Native Americans
He was dedicated to the Indians in East Texas
When the Spanish found out about the French, Hidalgo was given permission to reestablish the missions among the Caddoes
He stayed at San Francisco de los Tejas until it was abandoned

14. San Miguel de los Linares de los Adaes Los Adaes
1717
15 miles from French Settlement of Natchitoches
Spanish named Los Adaes the capital of the province of Texas
Site of “Chicken War”

15. East Texas III Natives did not see the benefit to the mission life
French were threatening the Spanish land claim
Spanish decided to try one more time to build successful missions
Settle San Antonio (1/2 point between East Texas and the Rio Grande)
Bring in settlers from the Canary Islands

16. San Antonio Spain’s expansion into Texas was a constant struggle
Marques de Rubi wrote a report to the King of Spain that France was no longer a threat due to Spain controlling Louisiana
He recommended that the eastern and western missions needed to be closed and moved to San Antonio.
San Antonio was the new capital of the Texas area and an alliance would be needed to be made with the Comanches

17. Circle the area on YOUR map EAST TEXAS MISSIONS

18. San Antonio II
The recommendations were adopted, but were not easy to carry out
Settlers around the missions to be closed were very upset about moving.
Some settlers decided to stay in East Texas. They established the town of Nacogdoches.
In western Texas, an alliance was made with the Comanches and a peace agreement was made with the Apaches.
The El Paso Missions continued to be successful even though there was less support and money

19. San Antonio III
San Antonio area, the missions, presidios, and settlements grew and flourished.
They were self-sufficient and stable communities
Spain opened the area to Spanish colonist who wanted to relocate.
Large ranches, small farms, and businesses were founded around the mission communities.
1731, Canary Islanders helped establish the civil settlement of San Antonio de Bexar and La Bahia

20. Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus (1657-1726)
Founded San Jose Mission y San Miguel de Aguayo due to San Antonio growing as a community
San Jose is one of five major missions in San Antonio
They still exist today, but as churches

21. Missions System in San Antonio
San Antonio was the home of five of the 36 missions founded in Texas between the years of
Their main goal was to “Christianize” the Coahueltican Indians and make them Spanish citizens
They had 10 years by Spanish law to convert, but there were many obstacles along the way
Most successful mission
Most missions stayed open until 1830 and still operate as churches today (except the Alamo)

22. Mission Buildings The mission floor plan was built like a fortress.
There was a stone wall that surrounded a center plaza (open air public area)
Along the wall were private rooms, offices, and workshops.
The convent, monastery, or friary was home to the friars and priests
At the main gate, there was a tower that was equipped with guns, ammunition, and cannons and at each corner there was a swivel gun

23. Mission Plans
Once a mission was built, planting began and irrigation ditches (acequias) were dug
channeling water throughout the mission
The granary (storehouse for grain) was built next and then shelters for the Indians
The church was the last to be built because of the time it took to make the sculptures, ornaments, woodwork, and ironwork
The church was the most important and beautiful building in the mission.
Over time, other areas were constructed for the Indians and the few families of the soldiers to live in the mission

24. Mission Government Based on the Spanish system
Each mission was independent of one another with limited powers
Native Americans who were trusted by the mission leaders of special abilities were chosen to represent the different tribes
Indians had their own jail and could determine punishment

25. Mission Government
There were Indians who instructed other Indians who worked in the fields
Indians did not always have this much freedom, and were expected to stay in the mission, learn Spanish language, and the Catholic religion and to do whatever the soldiers and priests instructed them to do

26. Mission Problems Indians would run away
Soldiers and priest would try to bring them back
Other times, the Indians would return on their own
They returned because of hunger and the threat of Comanches and apaches
Most of the Indians living in the missions were smaller and weaker tribes

27. Mission Successes
Spain allowed the missions to stay open as churches because of some of the success they had “Christianizing” the Indians
Missions Indians were very useful in teaching other the Spanish language and as scouts when there were conflicts with the Apache and the Comanche

28. Nuestra Senora de la Purisma Concepction
Originally in East Texas along the Angelina River
Established in 1716 to serve the Ainais Indians
Threat of French encroachment (intrusion) caused it to relocate
Moved and reopened in 1731 at current location in San Antonio

29. San Antonio de Valero 1718 Located in present-day San Antonio
Halfway point between Rio Grande and East Texas
Mission chapel is known as the Alamo

30. San Antonio de Bexar 1718 Presidio built across the San Antonio River
Village sprang up nearby named San Fernando de Bexar that later became know as downtown San Antonio

31. Santa Cruz de San Saba 1757 Built for the Lipan Apaches
LOCATED in Comanche Territory
Lipan Apaches had hoped to start a war between the Spaniards and the Comanches (idea was to get rid of both)
Mission was destroyed but
presidio remained for a few years.