SPANISH MISSIONS IN TEXAS How Spain Colonized Texas

SPANISH MISSIONS IN TEXAS How Spain Colonized Texas

BRIEF HISTORY • 1492 – Columbus came to America • Spaniards came to explore American mainland • 1500 s – Spanish explorers • Cabeza de Vaca and Coronado reinforced Spanish claim to Texas • Friars were establishing missions • 1682 – La Salle led first the European expedition to navigate the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico • Claimed the entire region surrounding the Mississippi for France/France had a claim to Texas • 1684 mistakenly landed in Texas and established the first settlement in Texas: Ft. St. Louis

MAJOR GOALS OF MISSIONS • Missions had several purposes: • Convert the Natives to the Catholic faith • Teach the natives to be subjects of Spain (loyal to the government) • Keep control of their lands • Spaniards feared a French Texas • Decided it was time to settle Texas • Renewed efforts to establish missions and settlement • The major goal of missions was to help Spain colonize and eventually become the greatest nation in the world.

WHAT WAS A SPANISH MISSION • Missions were the main tool for colonizing Texas. • Most missions were a square compound with enclosed walls to protect those inside. • Run by a priest. • Meant to be self sufficient

PURPOSE • Missions were expected to: • Be self supporting (grow, make its own stuff) • Make a profit$$$ for Spain • Produce goods for export ( beads, artwork)

DAILY LIFE IN THE MISSIONS • Morning Prayers • 30 -60 minutes of Catholic school • Worked in the field or workshops • After evening meal, more prayers • More Catholic school

PRESIDIOS • Provided military support for the missions, and later, settlements. • It protected missionaries and colonists from attacks by Native Americans.

TOUGH GOING • Missions were not all that successful. • Mission population shrank. • Natives ran away because they disliked mission life. • It cost the Spanish government $$$ to keep these missions going