Warm-UpWhich explorer, of the ones that we talked about, would you be and why? It needs to be at least 3 sentences long.

Life in Spanish Texas

Missions At first, missions were run by priests.One purpose was to convert

Native Texans to the Catholic faith.

Taught the native peoples to be good citizens and loyal subjects of the Spanish crown.

Spaniards hoped the natives would become skilled laborers who could be productive for Spain

If all these goals were met, Spain promised to give control of the missions to local government.

Daily Life in the Missions began with morning prayers followed by instruction in the

Catholic faith. After breakfast the natives worked all day in the

fields or workshops. After the evening meal, everyone in the mission

gathered for more religious instruction and prayers before going to sleep.

The priests supervised and physically punished uncooperative natives.

For the most part, Native Texans did not care for mission life. Many did not convert to the Catholic faith.

Many ran away, were captured by presidio soldiers, and punished by the priests.

Hard Times in the Missions

native population within the missions began to shrink

Many of the native women died giving birth.

Many natives were exposed to deadly European diseases.

Spanish crown began to view the missions as a drain on Spanish finances.

PresidiosProvided military

support for missions, and later settlements, until these communities could support themselves.

protect the colonists from attacks by Native Texans.

Presidio soldiers brought back natives who ran away from the mission

they protected groups bringing supplies from the Rio Grande.

Soldiers also guarded herds of cattle and horses to keep them from being stolen by native raiders.

Inside the Presidio Presidios were built from

logs, adobe, or stone.Presidio

compounds were rectangular with four tall walls and lookout points on each corner

Inside the presidio were barracks, separate sleeping quarters for officers, a chapel, and storage rooms.

The only entrance was a huge main gate.

Problems In PresidiosPeople often had to adopt military

lifestylesRaided by native Americans Officers were treated better than regular folk Most supplies were rationed to the soldiers If you were in military, you had to

constantly return runaway Natives

To the missions

Warm-upHow would you try to solve some of the problems associated with the missions and the presidios?

Spanish Towns The pobladores were colonists

who lived in the towns, or pueblos.

used logs, adobe, and stone, to build permanent dwellings

built dams to bring water to the towns and to farmers’ fields

many pobladores were former presidio families.

some were Native Texans who had adapted to Spanish culture

Life in Spanish townsSome worked as blacksmiths,

gunsmiths, bakers, and carpenters. Others drove carts, transporting goods from one town to

another Merchants operated general stores, selling food,

clothing, tools, and other goods. Festivals and other outdoor activities gave settlers

opportunities to form friendships

Problems in the TownsNo running water and sewage

services.

Unclean living conditions led to deadly epidemics

Not many doctors, medicines, or medical supplies in these remote settlements.

always in danger of being raided by Native Texans, outlaws, and smugglers.

Ranches Some colonists lived outside

of towns in places called ranchos, or ranches, and farms.

Raised cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and hogs.

provided the food and supplies colonies needed to survive.

supplied towns with wool and animal hides.

Provided horses for soldiers in the presidios

Problems in the Ranches Often times, people needed to fend for themselves Towns often suffered droughts

Invasions from Native AmericansLack of food