West Texas Missions1. 1598 Spain decided to establish a colony in their

northern territories. 2. Don Juan de Onate set out with 400 men,

families, priests, and livestock settled in New Mexico.

3. In 1682, the Spaniards established the first Texas missions of Corpus Christi de Ysleta in present-day

El Paso.

West Texas Missions

4. The purpose of the mission was to spread Christianity to the Jumanos and other Native

Americans in the area and to make a claim on the region.

5. The mission was successful and Spain decided to build more in the area.

West Texas Missions

Corpus Christi de Ysleta

1. Built in 1682. 2. First mission in Texas3. Built among the Tigua Indians near present-

day El Paso

Jose de Escandon (1700-1770)1. In the 1740’s the viceroy of New Spain chose

Escandon to lead an expedition to continue expansion in the northern frontier (Texas).

2. In 1748, Escanondon set out with 3000 settlers, soldiers, and priests to settle the land between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River.

3. 15 missions were established in this area, La Bahia was relocated to present day Goliad, and many towns were established through out Nuevo Santander (present-day Larado)

4. Known as “Father of the Lower Rio Grande Valley”

West Texas Problems/Solutions1. Spain continued to build missions in western

Texas but the war-like Indians continued to cause problems for the Spanish

2. Most Indian groups did not want to participate in mission life, but Comanche raids were too great threat for many of the Indians in western Texas.

3. Groups like the Tonkawa and other smaller groups were no match for the Comanche and they needed protection.

4. Missions provided protection for the smaller groups.

East Texas Missions1. After the Spanish found the remains of French

Fort St. Louis, Spain sent several priests and 100 soldiers along the Neches River to establish missions

2. Mission San Francisco de los Tejas and Santisimo Nombre de Maria were built in East Texas.

3. Mission Santa Maria was abandoned due to the priest becoming ill and dying.

4. Spaniards believed that the friendliness of the Caddoes and their trade network would allow the mission to survive and the Catholic religion to spread among the native groups

Circle the area on YOUR mapEAST TEXAS MISSIONS

Nuestro San Francisco de los Tejas

1. 16902. First mission in East Texas3. Located among the Caddo4. Near present-day Weches, TX (Crockett)5. Later abandoned and destroyed

East Texas Problems

1. 1691 problems included crop failures, drought, and Native American deaths due to disease, and lack of interest by the Natives to convert to the Catholic religion

2. Spain decided to abandon the east Texas missions due to cost to maintain, French threat was gone, and all of the serious problems

East Texas Missions II1. After 20 years, the Spanish returned to East Texas

due to the French threat.2. In 1699, the French began building trading posts

in Louisiana Territory, way too close for Spain.3. Spain decided to reopen the east Texas missions.4. The missions once again were not successful.5. The east Texas Indians saw no benefit to having

access to the mission and the French were too great a threat to Spain in east Texas.

Father Massenet 1. Wrote a report to establish a claim in East Texas

with missions2. Given permission to colonize the “land of the

Tejas” with several priests and soldiers along the Neches River

3. Built the first mission in East Texas with the Nabedache Indians (Caddo)

4. Massenet returned to Mexico City to encourage more missions to be built in Texas But decided to close the missions due to all the problems

Father Francisco Hidalgo (1659-1726)

1. In 1699, he tried to reestablish the East Texas missions.

2. He was worried his flock and asked the French priests to check on the Native Americans

3. He was dedicated to the Indians in East Texas4. When the Spanish found out about the French,

Hidalgo was given permission to reestablish the missions among the Caddoes

5. He stayed at San Francisco de los Tejas until it was abandoned

San Miguel de los Linares de los AdaesLos Adaes

1. 17172. 15 miles from French Settlement of

Natchitoches3. Spanish named Los Adaes the capital of the

province of Texas4. Site of “Chicken War”

East Texas III

1. Natives did not see the benefit to the mission life

2. French were threatening the Spanish land claim

3. Spanish decided to try one more time to build successful missions

4. Settle San Antonio (1/2 point between East Texas and the Rio Grande)

5. Bring in settlers from the Canary Islands

San Antonio

1. Spain’s expansion into Texas was a constant struggle2. Marques de Rubi wrote a report to the King of Spain

that France was no longer a threat due to Spain controlling Louisiana

3. He recommended that the eastern and western missions needed to be closed and moved to San Antonio.

4. San Antonio was the new capital of the Texas area and an alliance would be needed to be made with the Comanches

Circle the area on YOUR mapEAST TEXAS MISSIONS

San Antonio II1. The recommendations were adopted, but were not

easy to carry out2. Settlers around the missions to be closed were very

upset about moving. 3. Some settlers decided to stay in East Texas. They

established the town of Nacogdoches.4. In western Texas, an alliance was made with the

Comanches and a peace agreement was made with the Apaches.

5. The El Paso Missions continued to be successful even though there was less support and money

San Antonio III

1. San Antonio area, the missions, presidios, and settlements grew and flourished.

2. They were self-sufficient and stable communities3. Spain opened the area to Spanish colonist who

wanted to relocate.4. Large ranches, small farms, and businesses were

founded around the mission communities. 5. 1731, Canary Islanders helped establish the civil

settlement of San Antonio de Bexar and La Bahia

Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus (1657-1726)

1. Founded San Jose Mission y San Miguel de Aguayo due to San Antonio growing as a community

2. San Jose is one of five major missions in San Antonio

3. They still exist today, but as churches

Missions System in San Antonio1. San Antonio was the home of five of the 36

missions founded in Texas between the years of 1680-1793

2. Their main goal was to “Christianize” the Coahueltican Indians and make them Spanish citizens

3. They had 10 years by Spanish law to convert, but there were many obstacles along the way

4. Most successful mission5. Most missions stayed open until 1830 and still

operate as churches today (except the Alamo)

Mission Buildings

1. The mission floor plan was built like a fortress.2. There was a stone wall that surrounded a center

plaza (open air public area)3. Along the wall were private rooms, offices, and

workshops.4. The convent, monastery, or friary was home to

the friars and priests5. At the main gate, there was a tower that was

equipped with guns, ammunition, and cannons and at each corner there was a swivel gun

Mission Plans1. Once a mission was built, planting began and irrigation

ditches (acequias) were dug channeling water throughout the mission

2. The granary (storehouse for grain) was built next and then shelters for the Indians

3. The church was the last to be built because of the time it took to make the sculptures, ornaments, woodwork, and ironwork

4. The church was the most important and beautiful building in the mission.

5. Over time, other areas were constructed for the Indians and the few families of the soldiers to live in the mission

Mission Government1. Based on the Spanish system2. Each mission was independent of one another

with limited powers3. Native Americans who were trusted by the

mission leaders of special abilities were chosen to represent the different tribes

4. Indians had their own jail and could determine punishment

Mission Government5. There were Indians who instructed other Indians

who worked in the fields6. Indians did not always have this much freedom,

and were expected to stay in the mission, learn Spanish language, and the Catholic religion and to do whatever the soldiers and priests instructed them to do

Mission Problems1. Indians would run away2. Soldiers and priest would try to bring them back3. Other times, the Indians would return on their

own4. They returned because of hunger and the threat

of Comanches and apaches5. Most of the Indians living in the missions were

smaller and weaker tribes

Mission Successes1. Spain allowed the missions to stay open as

churches because of some of the success they had “Christianizing” the Indians

2. Missions Indians were very useful in teaching other the Spanish language and as scouts when there were conflicts with the Apache and the Comanche

Nuestra Senora de la Purisma Concepction

1. Originally in East Texas along the Angelina River

2. Established in 1716 to serve the Ainais Indians

3. Threat of French encroachment (intrusion) caused it to relocate

4. Moved and reopened in 1731 at current location in San Antonio

San Antonio de Valero

1. 17182. Located in present-day San Antonio3. Halfway point between Rio Grande and East

Texas4. Mission chapel is known as the Alamo

San Antonio de Bexar

1. 17182. Presidio built across the San Antonio River3. Village sprang up nearby named San

Fernando de Bexar that later became know as downtown San Antonio

Santa Cruz de San Saba

1. 17572. Built for the Lipan Apaches3. LOCATED in Comanche Territory4. Lipan Apaches had hoped to start a war

between the Spaniards and the Comanches (idea was to get rid of both)

5. Mission was destroyed but presidio remained for a few years.