1. Rene’-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
6.2 The French Challenge
Rene’-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle

2. Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
In 1682, French explorer, Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle sailed down the Mississippi River and claimed it for the French.
He later returned to
North America to set
up a settlement.
He ended up being
ship-wrecked in
Texas.

3. Fort St. Louis
The Fort Saint Louis settlement was built near Garcitas Creek
Made out of the timber from the
wrecked ship
It consisted of several small houses and a five-room fort
Hunger, disease, and attacks
by Indians made the fort fail
Last hope for settlers ended
when the last ship, La Belle
wrecked in a storm

4. The Spanish Search for the French
The Spanish heard that the French were in Texas and sent Alonso de León and Damián Massanet to find the Fort St. Louis
They found two French men and took them back to Mexico City for questioning
de León went back to find the fort, which he found, but also found the Hasinai Indians, which he named Tejas,
meaning “friend”

5. Spanish Set Up Missions in Texas
The Spanish began to establish missions in Texas, the first in East Texas being San Francisco de los Tejas
The Caddo did not need the things the mission offered, nor did they want religious instruction.
In addition, an outbreak of diseases broke out and tensions arose.
The Spaniards ended up burning the missions and returning to Mexico City.
The mission failed.

6. Tensions Grow Between France and Spain
The France and Spain went to war in 1719 when a French lieutenant and 7 soldiers attacked a nearby Spanish Settlement.
This became known as the
Chicken War (the lieutenant tied
several squawking chickens to his saddle).
The Spanish abandoned East Texas.
The Aguayo Expedition set out in 1720.

7. Effects of the Aguayo Expedition
Spanish re-occupy East Texas
Agreement to separate control of French Louisiana and Spanish Texas
Expansion of Spanish settlement (Los Adaes, La Bahia).