MISSIONS & SETTLEMENTS

Spanish Mission System

The Mission System

Three Goals of Spanish Mission System

Represent Spanish government Convert American Indians there to Catholicism Develop settlements there

Four Types of Spanish Settlements

mission – religious communities established by Spanish Catholics.

presidios – military bases in colonial America ranchos – ranches towns/settlements

The Mission System

Spain Looks to Texas

As part of the settlement of New

Spain, friars in 1682 founded the

first permanent settlement of

Europeans in Texas.

It was located near present-day El

Paso for the Tigua Indians and was

called Corpus Christi de la Ysleta.

Spain Looks to Texas

Spain Looks to Texas

However, most Spanish activityduring the 1690s was in the

Easternpart of Texas, near FrenchLouisiana.

This was mainly because of LaSalle’s establishment of Fort St.

Louisin Texas. Spanish officials wereafraid that it would produce

Frenchsettlement throughout Texas because of this Spain made astronger effort to colonize Texas.

René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle

Spanish Missions in East TexasThe first Spanish mission in East

Texas was dedicated on June 1,

1690.

It was a crude log building and

contained only a few simple

furnishings. It was named San

Francisco de los Tejas and was

located a few miles west of the

Neches River.

Spanish Missions in East Texas

Despite the promising beginning,troubles soon struck San Franciscode los Tejas.

Drought ruined the crops Disease killed many of the Native

Americans and one friar The Tejas Indians rejected the Catholic

religion and resented Spanish attempts to change the way to live.

Because of this and the realizationthat France was not a threat,

officialsin Mexico decided the mission

must beabandoned.

Spanish Missions in East Texas

Although the failure of the mission

was a disappointment, its mere

presence strengthened Spain’s claim

to Texas. Also, it made the Spanish

realize that they needed presidios

and Spanish families to settle the

land.

From 1693 to 1714, Spain made no

effort to settle Texas, but settlements

along the Rio Grande flourished.

France Threatens Again

Several years after La Salle’s venture in the

1680s, France made another attempt to

claim the lands drained by the Mississippi.

Unlike the Spanish, the French were not

interested in taking territory of converting the

Native Americans to Catholicism. The French

were more interested in making profit trading

blankets, guns, and wine for furs and skins.

The French also hoped to trade with Spanish

merchants in Mexico, but Spanish law

prohibited foreigners from trading with the

colonies of New Spain.

France Threatens AgainWithout the knowledge of Spanish officials,Father Francisco Hidalgo wrote a letter to theFrench governor of Louisiana, asking them toestablish a mission among the Tejas.

The French governor appointed Louis de St.Denis to negotiate with Spanish officials onthe Rio Grande. St. Denis arrived at SanJuan Bautista in July 1714 and the presidio’scommander arrested him.

St. Denis insisted that France had no plans tooccupy East Texas. The Spanish viceroy did

notbelieve him and ordered new missions to be

builtin East Texas with Spanish soldiers to protectthem.

San Antonio is Founded

Spanish officials saw the need for asettlement between New Spain and the

newmissions in East Texas because the 500

milejourney from the Rio Grande to East Texaswas dangerous. Supplies arrived slowly, if

atall.

Spanish officials chose a site on the SanAntonio River as the best place for thenew settlement. A friar described it asfollows:

“The best site in the world, with good and

abundant irrigation water, rich lands for

pasture, plentiful building stone, and excellent

timber.”

San Antonio is Founded

Presidio San Antonio de Bexar was build onone side of the San Antonio River, was built

in1718. Many soldiers brought their families,began digging irrigation canals for farming,and settled permanently.

Across the river Father Antonio de SanBuenaventura Olivares founded San

Antoniode Valero, better known as The Alamo.

San Antonio became the halfway point on the

Texas part of the El Camino Real, or “the Royal

Road”. This road led from the East Texasmissions to the southern Rio Grande

settlements.It continued south to Mexico City.

Life in the Mission

Spanish missions were busy centers of activity. The friars worked hard to persuade Native

American people to live close to the missions.

The Indian tribes that inhabited the territory of Texas prior to the coming of Europeans in the 16th

century engaged in a variety of religious practices. Most embraced, however vaguely, the concept

of a supreme being. They were not monotheistic, however, believing instead in a variety of

supernatural powers, organized in a hierarchy. For agricultural Indians, various ceremonies

accompanied planting and harvesting of crops, and nomadic Indians sought the help of spirits

before hunting expeditions for game.

Spanish missionaries hoped to teach the Native Americans the Spanish way of life. Gifts were

sometimes offered to make this life seem more attractive and sometimes the Spaniards used force

to get the Native Americans to settle near the mission.

Life in the Mission

The Native Americans who accepted mission

life were kept busy from dusk to dawn.

Started with prayers After breakfast, the children

attended school, including classes in religion.

The women wove cloth, molded pottery, or cooked.

The men worked in the fields or learned carpentry or blacksmithing.

After supper came more religion classes for adults followed by prayers.

Life in the Mission

The European viewpoint of the activity of Native Americans in missions:

“These Indians are today well instructed and civilized

and know how to work very well at their mechanical

trades and are proficient in some of the arts. Theyspeak Spanish perfectly, with the exception of

thosewho are daily brought in…they go about well dress,are abundantly fed.”

Life in the Mission

Although some Native Americans

adapted to mission life, most refused to

stay at the missions. They were not

accustomed to the strictly regulated

lifestyle.

Many did not want to become farmers

or blacksmiths or carpenters. Moreover,

Native Americans found it difficult to

leave behind a way of life that had

served them well for centuries.

End of Spanish Rule

In 1763 France lost the Seven Years’ War

Great Britain gained Canada and all French

land east of the Mississippi. While, Spain

gained New Orleans and all French land

west of the Mississippi.

With France no longer a force in North

America Spanish officials questioned whether

the East Texas missions and presidios were

needed.

In 1773, the New Spanish governor of Texas,

closed the four missions in East Texas and

ordered 500 settlers in the area to move to

San Antonio.

Nacogdoches Founded

The leader of the East Texans pleaded forpermission for the families to return to theirformer homes. The Spanish governor ofTexas refused, but did allow some of them

tosettle along the Trinity River.

They named their town Bucareli after aSpanish lieutenant general and viceroy. During the next four years, the colony didwell. Then crop failure, a smallpox

epidemic,and conflict with the Comanche's forced thecolonists to move.

In 1779 without government approval, led the

settlers back to East Texas timberlands and built

Nacogdoches.

The United States buys Louisiana

In 1800, Spain was forced to give Louisiana

back to France. In 1803, the United

States purchased the Louisiana Territory from

France for about $15 million. The territory

doubled the size of the United States.

This caused a controversy between the United

States and Spain about the boundary

between Spanish Texas and Louisiana. The United States insisted that the

American territory extended at least to the Sabine River and possibly included Texas.

The United States buys Louisiana

In 1819, the United States and Spain

signed the Adams-Onis Treaty, settling

the boundary dispute.

Spain gave Florida to the United

States and agreed to the Sabine River

as the eastern boundary of Texas. In

return, the United States gave up all

claims to Texas.

Hidalgo Calls for Independence

On September 16, 1810, Father Miguel

Hidalgo y Costilla issued a call for freedom

from Spain.

Many Mexicans were unhappy with Spanish

rule. The best jobs in Mexico were reserved

for men sent from Spain as administrators.

Spain increased Mexican taxes to help pay

for wars in Europe. This and other acts

greatly increased Mexican unhappiness.

For a time, Hidalgo’s forces did well in battle,

but eventually he was captured and

executed. This did not end Mexico’s fight for

independence.

Hidalgo Calls for Independence

“Mexicans, long live Mexico! Long live Our Lady ofGuadalupe! Long live Fernando VII! Down with thebad government!” -Father Hidalgo (Grito de Dolores)

Mexico Wins Independence

Causes

Wide economic and social divisions between the rich and poor in New Spain

Political corruption in Spain Examples of other revolutions,

including the American Revolution and those occurring in Latin America.

Father Hidalgo’s Grito de Dolores

Effects

Creation of Mexico as an independent republic

Economic ruin and loss of life in Mexico, including Texas

Political instability in Mexico Attempts to increase the Texas

population with immigrants from Europe and the United States

In September 1821 Mexico won independence from Spain .