The Five Missions of San Antonio LIFE IN SPANISH TEXAS The Five Missions of San Antonio The Alamo (1718) San Jose (1720) Photo Credits: The photograph of the Alamo is provided courtesy Roger Burgess. Images of missions San Jose, San Juan, Concepcion, and Espada are provided courtesy the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Concepcion (1731) Espada (1731) San Juan (1731)

Daily Life in the Mission Morning Prayers Instruction in the Catholic faith Breakfast Work all day in the fields, kitchen, or in the workshops The Native Texans that became part of the mission were often punished by the priest if they did not follow rules. One of the few tribes that did convert was the Coahuiltecans in South Texas

The front of Mission Concepción near San Antonio Spanish Texans The Franciscan order of the Catholic Church ran the Missions. The Indians who were converted became Hispanics or “turned Spanish” The front of Mission Concepción near San Antonio

The San Antonio Missions

The Espada Dam was constructed in 1745 By 1800, only about 3,500 colonists were living in Texas. Most lived in San Antonio and Nacogdoches. The Spanish also developed towns near Presidio La Bahia (Near Victoria) and Laredo. These towns used whatever they could find to create buildings and they often dug acequias (canals) to bring water to the towns. The best preserved of the San Antonio acequias is the one near Mission Espada The Espada Dam was constructed in 1745

= Spanish Government ALCALDE The alcalde was the name for the Spanish official that acted as a mayor, sheriff and judge for the town. The ayuntamiento was the name for the town counsel.

People in towns usually were made up of former presidio soldiers and native Texans that had adapted to Spanish life. They were usually uneducated, as only priest and government officials were literate (could read). Women in the towns were important as they helped with farm and ranch duties as well as preparing food, making clothes, and teaching morals and values to children. Married women in Texas were able to keep property they owned before they were married and owned property separate from their husbands.

Pobladores (towns people) celebrated with horse racing, dances, singing, and telling folk tales. Life in a town could be very hard. There was always the threat of attack. In addition, without running water, sewage was a problem, and therefore disease was always a threat. Muddy streets and standing water helped mosquitoes thrive.

Ruins of a Spanish Colonial Hacienda in Zapata county Haciendas Some settlers started Haciendas, which is a ranch in Spanish territory Ranching took hold in Texas because it was easier than farming. it took only a few workers to man a ranch. Ruins of a Spanish Colonial Hacienda in Zapata county

The Spanish Vaqueros were the original cowboys. Spain began to encourage the cattle industry by given land grants to cattle ranchers. The vaqueros (cowboys) developed many techniques still used today to control livestock. The Spanish Vaqueros were the original cowboys.

End of the Missions and Preservation By the early 1800’s the Franciscans secularized (turned over control) the missions to the Hispanic townspeople of Texas. The Missions fell into disrepair. In the early 1900’s, Adina de Zavala led an effort to save them. They became part of the National Park system in 1975 Adina de Zavala

The Fight to Preserve the Missions