1. French in East Texas

2. La Salle, French Explorer
Who was this guy?
La Salle, French Explorer

3. Where was he in Texas?
East Texas: Gulf Coastal Area

4. Summary of La Salle
Claimed land in Canada and all along the Mississippi for France; called it Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV.
On his way from France in 1684 to set up colony on mouth of Mississippi River but got lost and ended up in Matagorda Bay.
Set up settlement near Garcita Creek called Fort St. Louis (present day Victoria County).

5. Summary of La Salle (cont’d)
Settlement a failure due to disease, not enough food, and fighting.
La Salle and soldiers went to find help in Canada one soldier ended up murdering La Salle.

6. Spanish set out to look for French
Officials send out Alonso de León with Father Damián Massanet to find the French fort and get the French out of Texas.
Alonso de León with Father Damián Massanet found east Tejas to be good land and informed the officials that it would be a good idea to set up a mission there.

7. Spanish Mission in Texas
Mission was Francisco de los Tejas.
Was a failure.
Tejas did not want religious instruction & disease broke out.
In 1693 the Spanish burned the mission down.