Spanish Missions, Presidios, & Towns Essential Questions: Why did Spain establish Catholic missions, presidios and towns? What happens when cultures come in contact with each other?

How did the Spanish colonize Texas? Missions: Spain’s main way of colonizing Expected to support themselves. Missions were used to convert the Natives to the Catholic faith and make loyal subjects to Spain. Presidios were built nearby to house soldiers and protect the mission and townspeople.

Towns and settlements were built near the missions and colonists were brought in for colonies to grow and survive.

What was San Francisco de los Tejas? Fray Damián Massanet, a Catholic priest, promised he would help the Caddo people in East Texas. Massanet, 3 other friars and about 100 soldiers establish the first Spanish mission in East Texas named San Francisco de los Tejas

The mission failed because crops failed, disease killed many natives and the Caddos rejected the Catholic religion. But the experiment will strengthen Spain’s claim to Texas.

What was San Juan Bautista? Mission San Juan Bautista along the Rio Grande was called the "Mother of Texas Missions" because it was the base for many expeditions whose aims were to establish missions in East Texas. It provided grain, cattle, and horses to the missionaries on these expeditions.

Was France a threat? France was not interested in taking territory or converting the Native Americans to Catholicism. great traders who won the friendship of many Native groups, and the French made large profits exchanging blankets, guns, and wine for furs and skins. The French also hoped to trade with Spanish merchants in Mexico, but Spanish law prohibited foreigners from trading in the colonies of New Spain.

A Spanish priest named Francisco Hidalgo asks French Catholic priests to help create a mission in East Texas because the Spanish will not. The unexpected arrival of the French party led by Louis de St. Denis alarmed Captain Diego Ramón, the east Texas’s presidio's commander. He arrested St. Denis and sent him to Mexico City to be examined by the viceroy. St. Denis insisted that France had no plans to occupy East Texas.

The Spanish viceroy and his council, or advisers, did not believe St The Spanish viceroy and his council, or advisers, did not believe St. Denis The Spanish ordered new missions to be built in East Texas with Spanish soldiers to protect them. Trade between the Spanish and French was stopped.

When was San Antonio Founded? In 1718, the Spanish built a fort-town, Presidio San Antonio de Béxar, on one side of the San Antonio River. Across the river, Father Olivares founded Mission San Antonio de Valero (aka “The Alamo”)

In 1719, Antonio Margil de Jesus founded Mission San Jose In 1719, Antonio Margil de Jesus founded Mission San Jose. He was the most famous and successful of all friars. The El Camino Real, or King’s Highway, was the first road in TX that connected the Rio Grande to East TX missions. Many soldiers brought families to San Antonio to settle permanently.

What was the Chicken War? In 1719 war broke out between Spain and France overseas. So French soldiers seized the Spanish mission near Nacogdoches. They looted the mission and captured a Spanish soldier. The French leader was thrown from his horse because of the chickens in the courtyard! The Spanish soldier was able to escape. The story was exaggerated and embarrassing to the Spanish viceroy…as a result the Spanish were determined to hold Texas.

Escandón Colonizes South Texas In the 1750s, Jose de Escandón successfully colonized more than 20 towns and missions. He is known as the “Father of the Lower Rio Grande Valley”.

What were some Positive Effects of Spanish Colonization? The 3-pronged colonial plan (missions, presidios & towns/settlements) formed modern-day cities such as El Paso and San Antonio and resulted in Hispanic culture (food, clothing, architecture, etc.), which helped shape Texas. Spain proved that Texas was a valuable place to be settled.

What were some of the Negative Effects of Spanish Colonization? It changed the natural landscape of Texas. It forced many Indians to lose their hunting grounds. Indians had to adjust/adapt to life under Spanish control—which they resented. Conflicts with the French and Indians resulted in loss of life.