NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
Spanish Colonial Texas
Lesson 1: The First Missions
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What is the role of religion in government? Why does conflict develop?
Terms to Know
conflict a disagreement or fight
affect to act on; to influence
presidio a Spanish fort or military post
friar a Catholic priest who belongs to a religious order
council a group of advisers
What do you know?
In the first column, answer the questions based on what you know before you study. After the lesson,
fill in the last column.
Before Study
Questions
Why did the Spanish settle in
what is now Texas?
What was France’s focus in its
exploration of North America?
80
Reading Essentials and Study Guide
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What are missions?
After Study
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
Spanish Colonial Texas
Lesson 1: The First Missions, continued
European Conflicts and American
Colonies
Guiding Question How did conflict in Europe affect Spain’s colonies
in the Americas?
In the late 1600s, England, the Netherlands, some German states,
and Spain wanted to stop France’s growing power. They formed
what they called the Grand Alliance. A conflict broke out between
these allies and France. It lasted from 1689 to 1697.
The war affected Spain’s North American colonies. These
settlements stretched from present-day California to what is now
New Mexico. Spain also held Florida. It was divided from Spain’s
western lands by the Mississippi River Valley, which was controlled by
France. The division of its colonies made Spain uneasy. The La Salle
expedition had shown that France was interested in Spanish Texas.
Spain began to settle the area to protect it from France. They
established three types of settlements:
Type
Purpose
mission
built to convert and educate native
peoples in Spanish culture and
religion
fort; built to house soldiers who
protected settlers
built to house settlers
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
presidio
town
Spain’s rulers were strongly Catholic and wanted to convert
others to their religion. These efforts by the Spanish took place in
the late 1690s. This was the start of the Spanish Colonial era.
Spain Looks to Texas
Guiding Question Why did Spain want to build missions in Texas?
Fearing that La Salle’s arrival in 1685 would lead to more French
settlements, the Spanish moved fast. As soon as they heard about
Fort St. Louis, they sent troops to destroy it. The group was led by
Alonso de León (ah•LOHN•soh day lay•OHN), and it reached the
site on April 22, 1689, but it was empty and in ruins.
Identifying
Cause and Effect
1. How did war in Europe
change Spain's plans
for its North American
colonies?
Reading
Progress Check
2. What was the purpose
of the presidios?
Marking the
Text
3. Circle the text that
describes how the
Spanish reacted to the
building of the French
Fort St. Louis.
Explaining
4. How did Texas get its
name?
In East Texas, De León’s troops met the Hasinai people. The
Hasinai called the Spanish Ta’sha, which means “ally” or “friend.”
The Spanish began to say Tejas (TAY•hahs) to describe the area and
its native people. English speakers pronounced it “Texas,” and that
is how Texas got its name.
Reading Essentials and Study Guide 81
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
Spanish Colonial Texas
Lesson 1: The First Missions, continued
Defining
5. What is a friar?
Marking the
Text
6. Highlight the name of
the first Spanish mission
in East Texas.
Explaining
7. Why did the first
Spanish mission in East
Texas fail?
8. What were two
accomplishments of
Mission San Francisco
de los Tejas?
Marking the
Text
9. Highlight three
purposes of the San
Juan Bautista mission.
82 Reading Essentials and Study Guide
In 1690 Massanet, three other friars, and about 100 soldiers set
out for East Texas. They founded the first Spanish mission in East
Texas on June 1, 1690. It was named San Francisco de los Tejas
(sahn frahn•SEES•koh day lohs TAY•hahs). Within a year a second
mission was built. However, the missions had problems. Crops
failed. Disease killed many Native Americans and some friars.
Believing that the church’s holy water made them ill, the Tejas
rejected Catholicism. They also did not like the Spanish trying to
change how they lived.
In 1694 Spanish officials decided to abandon the mission
because the French were no longer interested in the area.
However, San Francisco de los Tejas accomplished two things:
Accomplishments of
San Francisco de los
Tejas
Strengthened
Spain’s claim to
Texas
Showed Spain that a
colony needed families
to settle the land
Almost ten years later, Spain founded another mission in Texas,
San Juan Bautista, built in 1699. It was located 35 miles (56 km)
from the Rio Grande. Soon, the Spanish decided to move the
mission and its colony much closer to the Rio Grande where there
was better access to water.
Over time, San Juan Bautista grew. It had three missions, a
presidio, and a town. Its location near important roads into Texas
made it a stopping point for travelers. The soldiers of the presidio
protected travelers and supply trains and fought Native Americans
when necessary. The mission provided grain, cattle, and horses to
the other settlements. San Juan Bautista was also a listening post
for news about the French.
By 1699, the French again posed a threat. Once more, they were
exploring west of the Mississippi River. They focused on trading
blankets, guns, and wine for furs and skins from Native Americans.
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Identifying
Father Damián Massanet, a friar with De León’s troops, promised
he would come back to the area. A friar is a Catholic priest who
belongs to a religious group. The Spanish friars were dedicated to
spreading the Catholic faith. Back in Mexico, Massanet asked
permission to found a mission among the Tejas, and it was granted.
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
Spanish Colonial Texas
Lesson 1: The First Missions, continued
The French also hoped to trade with merchants in Mexico.
However, Spanish law banned foreigners from trading with their
colonies. Still, trade was a necessity in the wilderness. Native
Americans and settlers in Texas ignored the law.
One of San Juan Bautista’s missionaries was Father Francisco
Hidalgo (ee•DAHL•goh). He was a friar who had known the Tejas
people at San Francisco de los Tejas. For years he asked Spanish
officials to rebuild the mission for the Tejas. Desperate, Hidalgo
wrote a letter to the French governor of Louisiana. He asked the
French to build a mission among the Tejas. The letter was sent in
secret, without Spanish officials’ permission.
The French governor liked Hidalgo’s proposal. It was a chance to
open trade with Native Americans and the Spanish settlements in
Texas. He appointed Louis de St. Denis (loo•EE dah sahn deh•NEE)
to negotiate with Spanish officials on the Rio Grande. St. Denis and
a small party left for San Juan Bautista, arriving in July 1714.
Reading
Progress Check
10. Why would Spain have
a law that prevented its
colonists from trading
with non-Spanish
colonies? Why would
the French want to
trade with Spanish
colonists?
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The unexpected arrival of the French alarmed the presidio’s
commander. He arrested St. Denis and sent him to Mexico City for
questioning. St. Denis insisted that France had no plans to take
over East Texas. The Spanish viceroy and his council, or group of
advisers, did not believe him.
Writing
Check for Understanding
1. Expository What were the three types of Spanish settlement and what was the purpose of each?
2. Expository Why did the Spanish feel threatened by the French in East Texas?
Reading Essentials and Study Guide 83