Spanish Settlement of Texas

Which two countries claimed ownership of Texas in the late 1600’s? Which country do you think had the better claim to owning Texas?

Louisiana: aka “Louisiana” Once upon a time, there was a wondrous, magical land called Texas. Louisiana: aka “Louisiana” Owned by France Texas: aka “New Spain” Owned by Spain Gulf o’ Mexico Owned by the Sharks Mexico: aka “New Spain” Owned by Spain

The King of Spain had a problem... We have owned Texas for 200 years and have nothing to show for it. No towns. No gold. Other countries think Texas is free for the takin’. (make sure Senor Terry tells you his Elizabeth story) The King of Spain had a problem...

Why hadn’t Spain built cities in Texas? (French fur trapper) Why hadn’t Spain built cities in Texas?

I am a typical Spanish rancher I am a typical Spanish rancher. I would like to move to Texas and raise cattle and horses with my family. But if I do… The King knew that if he sent people to live in Texas, then this is what might happen…

Indians weren’t Spain’s only concern… Must...have...animal hides... Louisiana was full of French trappers hoping to cross over into Texas to hunt, settle, and trade with the Indians. The Indians preferred the French over the Spanish. Indians weren’t Spain’s only concern…

How could Spain fix these two problems? By building missions… Oh no you di-ant!

They invited the Indians to live there. What was a Spanish mission? A Spanish mission was a settlement run by Franciscan Friars (Catholic priests). They invited the Indians to live there. The priests taught the Indians the Spanish language, Spanish culture, ranching, farming, and the Catholic religion.

Why did Spain build these missions in Texas? To strengthen their control over Texas. To keep the French out of Texas. To teach the Indians the Spanish culture. To make Texas safer for Spanish people to live there. Aw, man!

If the missions succeeded, then this might be the result… Can’t invade Texas... too many Indians...I mean, Spaniards! I love farming! I’d much rather do this than run around naked hunting buffalo! Who wants to hunt and fish all day when you can go to school and work for Spanish people instead? Stay out of Texas, you dirty Frenchmen! I’d rather learn Spanish than steal horses! If the missions succeeded, then this might be the result… Hola! Me llamo Francisco! Oh boy! Now I can take my family to live in Texas! It is much safer!

But if the missions failed…. Oui oui! We will take Texas and share it with the Indians! But if the missions failed…. Here, Mr. Indian. Have some boom-boom sticks to fight the Spanish.

Come live at our mission…You will have food…clothing…shelter Come live at our mission…You will have food…clothing…shelter. In 5-7 years you will ‘graduate’ and receive a farm of your own!

Why would an Indian go live in a Spanish mission? Protection! Shelter! Food! ? Why would an Indian go live in a Spanish mission?

A typical Spanish mission. Acequia: man-made canal that brought water to the mission Well Blacksmith shop Mission Ranch- sheep, horses, cows, pigs. Chapel Fields- corn, squash, pumpkins, beans, cotton etc. School Indian apartments

There are many missions still standing in Texas There are many missions still standing in Texas...However, usually only the chapels remain...The walls and other buildings are mostly gone. Why?

Indian Apartments at a Spanish Mission

An acequia, which brought water to the mission from a creek or river. The “Rose Window” at the Mission San Jose in San Antonio. This is an example of the nice architecture found at some missions.

You there- get to work!

Why did Spain need to get more control over Texas? What did Indians learn at a Spanish mission? Which tribes would most likely find mission life attractive? What are some potential problems that you see with the mission idea? If you were in charge of a mission, what is something you would do to make it a success?

A presidio was a Spanish fort. What was a presidio? A presidio was a Spanish fort. The presidio protected the mission from enemy attack. The soldiers also taught Indians to protect the mission. Soldiers also caught runaway Indians. (Presidios were usually too small and too far away from the mission to do their job.)

Presidio La Bahia at Goliad

The San Saba Presidio

Ruins of the San Saba Presidio

What did Indians do at a mission? Christianity Spanish for the Texas Indian By Friar Terry

1. Farming at a Mission Each mission grew all of its food. Priests and Indians worked in the fields to grow corn, squash, beans, and other vegetables! If the crops didn’t grow, there was a good chance the mission would not succeed! Work faster! We must have corn for the winter! And watch out for Comanche! We are sitting ducks here! This is strange...I’m used to living like a nomad…not staying in the same place all of the time!

2. Mission School Agenda Know: Spanish Do: Spanish Show: Learn Spanish boys girls 2 43 The main purpose of a mission was to teach the Indians to be Spanish. Therefore, the Indians had to go to school. They learned to read and write and speak the Spanish language.

3. Mission Ranch Each mission had a ranch. Indians raised meat to eat and sheep’s wool to make clothing and blankets. One of the most important things that missions contributed to Texas culture were the first ranches. Spanish missions introduced ranching to Texas: Each mission had a ranch that raised cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, etc. The Indians helped raise the animals. They were the first cowboys!

4. Religion at a Spanish Mission Now I am a Catholic, just like the priests! I have to memorize and recite a bunch of prayers! I teach the Indians to be Catholic. I also baptize them to wash away their sins. Sometimes I get the feeling that they don’t really understand what I am trying to teach them!

Reasons that the Mission System failed.

4. Drought and Crop Failure Missions grew their own food! A drought could doom a mission!

Reason #3 Indian Attack

Reason #2 Disease DISEASES Germs spread quickly at missions, causing epidemics. (Think about school- germs spread quickly here- same thing.) Running Fox Reason #2 Disease

#1 Reason Missions Failed: Indians Rejected Spanish Culture! I like my old religion, language, way of life, food, house, and woo-hoo cloth better!

Woo-hoo! I’m gonna go chase some buffalo! Parada!

Big deal. The mission system was a failure Big deal. The mission system was a failure. Why do we need to know about it? 1. Without missions, there would be no San Antonio. 2. Spanish missionaries named many rivers 3. The Alamo was a mission- there would have been no battle of the Alamo 4. The missions brought cattle, horses, and ranching to Texas 5. The missions failed, which meant that Spain decided to let Americans try and settle Texas.

sheep. The Comanche killed 5 Reason #3 Indian Attack My friend Running Fox was the shepherd. We found him floating in the creek, murdered and scalped! Being a shepherd is dangerous! I hope they don’t make me do it! Keep a good eye on those sheep. The Comanche killed 5 more last night.

Starter: Fill in the mission vocabulary in your packet! viceroy: a governor who rules over an area of land for the king   presidio: a Spanish fort that protected Spanish missions and towns acequia: a man-made ditch that brought water from a river to a mission catechism: a set of questions and answers about the Catholic religion that Indians living at a mission had to memorize epidemic: a widespread disease that kills a lot of people