The Growth of Missions Why? To stop the possibility of French settlement How? Setting up missions, presidios, and towns in East Texas

The Growth of Missions After Louis de St Denis was caught by the Spanish trying to set up a mission for Father Hidalgo, the Spanish wanted his help in setting up missions in East Texas for their own

San Fransisco de los Tejas The large Spanish force arrived in June 1716 at the site of San Francisco de los Tejas. The new arrivals founded a mission called Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas. Within a year, the Spanish had established six missions in the area. Antonio Margil de Jesús was a central figure in setting up several of these missions A presidio was also set up on the Neches to defend against Native and French attacks

San Antonio gets Founded A settlement between Mexico and East Texas was needed to help supply the Spanish missions out east because the long trip between was dangerous and the missions were poorly supplied. They founded San Antonio de Bexar where modern day San Antonio is located. San Antonio de Valero was the first area mission The mission chapel, which was built a few years later, is now known as the Alamo.

Life in San Antonio Soldiers and other settlers in San Antonio brought their families to build a permanent home. The settlers hunted and built farms using water from the San Antonio River.

This Means War! France declared war on Spain in In 1719, the French in Louisiana attacked a small East Texas mission. Only one friar and one soldier were there and they were captured. They escaped and fled to the nearest mission. The news made all Spanish settlers in the area flee to San Antonio

The Spanish Strike Back Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo led an army to attack the French, and eventually reopened the missions and claimed part of Louisiana The Spanish would establish more presidios in Texas as well as an unofficial capital in Texas Why do you think they would want to have a capital in Texas instead of just ruling Texas from Mexico?

More Spanish Expansion Aguayo set up more missions and presidios to secure their links between Mexico and San Antonio, including moving a large mission and presido to Goliad. The Spanish also established a water route between Texas and Mexican ports. With these new settlements, France would never challenge Spain for Texas again.

Life in Spanish Texas Spanish friars left Spain to help spread the Catholic religion. It was their job to teach the Native American tribes Spanish, convert them to Christianity, and teach them skills like masonry and how to be a blacksmith. The friars also worked as preachers for the Spanish soldiers and settlers.

Life in Spanish Texas Native Americans were not forced to enter the missions, but those who did had to live by Spanish ways and work a usual day like we think of today. Soldiers living here had to escort supply convoys, guard the settlements, and taking care of the presidio. They were not paid much and had to pay for all of their equipment.

Life in Spanish Texas Other settlers like craftsmen and teachers moved into Texas too to be able to build communities. Spanish, Native American, and African cultures all blended together to create a culture different than in Spain. The people of this new culture were called Tejanos, and Tejano culture is still an important part of Texas today.