THE MISSION SYSTEM IN TEXAS WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT IT?

PURPOSE LaSalle’s expedition alerted the Spanish to French presence in Texas If Spain wanted to retain Texas lands, it needed to occupy it Spanish church officials and the military built missions & presidios to Christianize the Indians and protect the settlers, as well as claim land

SIGNIFICANCE TODAY Many Texas cities today were founded as Spanish missions (EX: San Antonio) The Spanish brought with them their language, culture, art, and music, which is still seen in Texas today

LIFE AT THE MISSIONS Because the missions served the King (protecting his lands) and the church (Christianizing the Indians) the government & church cooperated in the establishment of the missions.

LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CON’T.) Missions became self-sufficient, growing their own food and raising their own animals. They became schools for the Indians, teaching agriculture, different crafts & trades, the Spanish language, reading & writing, and of course the Catholic religion.

LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CON’T.) As the mission grew, so did the area around it. A presidio would house soldiers, and the addition of a pueblo (village) made the mission the center of activity for a vast area.

LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CON’T.) While in reality life at the missions was difficult and sometimes dangerous, people still found time to relax, like dancing fandangos, celebrating holidays & other special days, creating rodeos, and horse racing.

IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS Corpus Christi de la Ysleta founded in 1682 near present day El Paso, was the first permanent settlement of Europeans in Texas

Corpus Christi de la Ysleta

IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS San Francisco de los Tejas The first Spanish mission founded in East TX in 1690 by Father Damian Massanet for the Tejas Indians

San Francisco de los Tejas

IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS San Juan Batista Built 5 miles from the Rio Grande River in 1699, it became a crossroads linking Texas to Mexico; it was nicknamed “Mother of Texas Missions” as it was the supply base for East TX missions

San Juan Batista

IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS San Antonio de Valero Built in 1718 across from the presidio San Antonio de Bexar, it was established on the San Antonio River as a halfway point between East TX & Mexico; the chapel, built a few years later, was known as the Alamo

San Antonio de Valero

IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS Santa Cruz de San Saba Built in central TX in 1759, 100 miles from the nearest Spanish settlement; established in an attempt to convert the Apache & Comanche Indians; suffered numerous attacks

Santa Cruz de San Saba

CONCLUSION The mission system was very important to the development of Texas. Not only were some of the missions the beginning of what are today large cities, but the culture brought by the Spanish influenced the Native Americans & agriculture, and still has a small impact today. Without the mission system, our history would be much different