 Two of the most powerful countries in Europe  Both wanted control of Texas, but needed to occupy land  Spain had explored Texas for gold and found none

 La Salle claimed the Mississippi River and all the land it watered and all its branches for France

 In 1685 La Salle could not find the mouth of the Mississippi, so he sailed on to Texas

 Texas lay between Spanish Texas and French Louisiana

 Spain’s 1st mission in Texas was Corpus Christi de la Ysleta near present-day El Paso in 1682  In 1690, The Viceroy of New Spain sent DeLeon and Massanet to establish missions in East Texas because the Caddoes there were so friendly and close to French land  East Texas Missions failed due to distance from Mexico City, disease, and drought

 France built trading posts in what is now Mississippi and Alabama  St. Denis crossed the Rio Grande at a Priest’s request and was arrested by the Spanish

 In 1716 Spain built several new Missions in east Texas  In 1716 the settlement of Nacogdoches was established  In order to succeed, the missions would need a steady source of supplies  Part way between Mexico City and east Texas Missions—In 1718 Mission San Antonio de Valero was established at the San Antonio River (later became the Alamo)

 Missions were not successful due to lack of interest by the Native Texans  Mission life was too confining and too different from their way of life  Chicken War made Spanish look foolish

 Marques de Aguayo was sent by the Spanish to reopen the failed Missions which he stocked well with supplies  He also set up Mission Adeas which was considered the “eyes and ears” for French activity  Aguayo set up strong Presidios with brass cannons and many soldiers to show Spanish force  In all 10 Missions and 4 Presidios were in operation

 Canary Island families move to San Antonio  Some Missions move from east Texas to San Antonio and Goliad  French continue trading with Native Texans  Missions were established in Central Texas, but failed

 Mission San Saba is established in northwest Texas, but is destroyed by the Comanches

 Count Jose de Escandon established missions in South Texas settling 6000 people in 20 towns

 Marques de Rubi was sent by the Spanish King to inspect the Spanish lands  He recommended that all Missions be closed except in San Antonio and Goliad  East Texas settlers continued to live in Nacogdoches, but with little protection  San Antonio becomes the largest settlement in Texas with Nacogdoches as second largest