Explorers and Settlers Spanish Settlements p. 124

Missions are Established in East Texas Within a year, the Spanish had established 6 missions and a small fort in east Texas.

San Antonio is Founded Spanish officials realized the need for a mission midway between New Spain and the new missions. Presidio San Antonio de Bexar was set up near the San Antonio River in Later called San Antonio. Mission San Antonio de Valero was built a few years later. This mission became known as the Alamo.

Aguayo Defends the Missions War broke out between Spain and France in 1719 This halted the settling of East Texas. French soldiers from Louisiana seized the Spanish mission near present day Nacogdoches. The viceroy of New Spain sent Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo to take back East Texas.

Aguayo Defends the Missions Aguayo was the governor of the provinces of Coahuila and Texas. Aguayo marched 500 soldiers, thousands of horses and mules, and large herds of sheep and cattle to Texas. He moved Presidio Nuestra Senora de los Delores to the Angelina River.

Aguayo Founds Two Cities Aguayo built a large presidio, Nuestra Senora del Pilar de los Adaes, in Louisiana. French commander St. Denis claimed the presidio was in French territory, but never tried to drive them away. Aguayo established Los Adaes which became the unofficial capital of Texas in 1722 and remained it for 50 years.

Aguayo Founds Two Cities Aguayo also established a mission near the ruins of Fort Saint Louis, established by La Salle. It later was moved near present day Goliad and named La Bahia del Espiritu Santo.

An Uneasy Peace 9 missions, 2 villages, and 4 presidios were established in Texas In 1727 Spanish officials needed to cut costs so they decided to combine and abandon some missions. The Arroyo Hondo stream became the boundary between Spanish and French territory.

Plains People Resent Missions Spanish missionaries traveled among Native Americans converting them to Catholicism. Most Native Americans were not interested in Catholicism but were rarely threatening. Plains Indians (Apache and Comanche) resented the Spaniards and raided their settlements regularly.

San Saba Mission Fails Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba was set up in central Texas as a request by the Apache Indians to use as protection from the Comanche Indians. Apaches used this mission for food and gifts sometimes. Comanche's raided often. Due to raids, lack of supplies and distance from administrative help the mission failed.