Missions and Settlements Chapter 5: Texas History

First Missions are Built 1682: the first permanent settlement was founded in Texas-Mission of Corpus Christi de la Ysleta. Spain built missions, presidios and towns in lands occupied by Native Americans. Presidios: military outposts Alsonso de Leon led an expedition to destroy La Salle’s fort, but found it abandoned.

Missions De Leon led his troops northeast and met the Hasinai people, whom they called Tejas (friend). Angelina, a Hasinai woman, served as a guide and interpreter to the Spanish Father Damian Massanet founded a mission in East Texas called San Francisco de los Tejas, along the Neches River.

A Mission Abandoned San Francisco de Tejas soon failed The Tejas people rejected Catholicism, and resented the Spanish as a result. Drought and diseases also killed many of the Tejas Other settlements began to appear as Spanish saw a need for power in the claim for Texas Mission San Juan Bautista: became the base for many expeditions whose aim was to establish more missions in east Texas. Provided grain, cattle and horses to missionaries on expeditions

France Threatens Again France once again tried to claim land by the Mississippi in 1699. 1699: a French expedition established a colony on the Gulf Coast at Biloxi in present day Mississippi. Louis de St. Denis was sent to negotiate the Rio Grande with the Spanish, but was arrested on his arrival. He tried to assure the Spanish that France had no intention of occupying East Texas. As a result, the Spanish viceroy and his council (advisors), ordered more missions with Spanish soldiers to protect them. All trade between the Spanish and French stopped.

East Texas Missions San Antonio was founded in order to bridge the distance between the Rio Grande to east Texas. Supplies arrived slowly and the trip was dangerous Martin de Alarcon helped build a permanent settlement Founded the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar Mission San Antonio de Valero was founded The mission chapel is now known as the Alamo

Defending the Missions France and Spain went to war in 1719, and settlement of East Texas came to a stop Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo was ordered to organize a force to defeat the French Built Nuestra Senora del Pilar de los Adaes Became unofficial capital of Texas in 1722 Set up a mission and presidio near the ruins of La Salle’s fort, until it was moved to the present day town on Goliad. Set up 9 missions, 2 villages and 4 presidios with the protection of over 500 Spanish soldiers.

San Saba Mission Fails 1757 missionaries founded Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba, and soldiers built a presidio a few miles away. Wanted to Christianize the Native Plains people Apaches often visited the mission and hoped it would provide protection from the Comanche Efforts to Christianize the plains people failed Lacked supplies and enough people to survive in such a remote region.

Life on the Missions Spaniards wanted to teach Native Americans their way of life. Children went to school Prayer in the morning Women wove cloth, molded pottery or cooked Men learned blacksmithing or carpentery Spanish soldiers faced difficult and dangerous conditions Protected missions and settlements Wanted to control the Native Americans Usually poorly equipped

Important Settlements in Texas San Antonio, Goliad, Los Adaes and Nacogdoches were the most important civilian settlements in Spanish Texas. San Antonio was the largest and served as the capital by 1722 Landowners elected a city council called an ayuntamiento and a chief official called an alcalde.

Spanish Living in Texas Population was made up of Spaniards, Native Americans, Mestizos and African Americans Mestizos were people mixed with Spanish and Native American heritage Most African Americans were free, with only a few enslaved at this point Tejano culture was becoming part of the Texas cultural landscape