Spanish Colonies on
the Borderlands
Ch. 3: Colonies Take Root (1587-­‐1752) Sec<on 5 1.)
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Students will describe Spain’s colony in Florida. Students will explain how Spain
established seElements throughout North America. Students will describe the significance of the Spanish missions. 1.)
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What was the Spanish colony in Florida? How was Spain able to establish seAlements throughout North America? What was the significance of the Spanish missions? I.  Review of the Southern Colonies II.  Spanish Colonies A.  Spanish Florida B.  SeAling the Spanish Borderlands 1.  Juan De Onate in New Mexico 2.  Missions in Texas and Arizona 3.  Missions along the California coast 4.  Presidios and Pueblos C.  Life in Spanish Missions While English colonies were forming along the coast, Spanish colonies in the Americas were already hundreds of years old. Spain had planted colonies in the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America. Spain’s first colonies in what is today the United States were in Florida. • Spanish explorers reached Florida in the early 1500’s. • A fort was built in northern Florida, St. Augus0ne, fearing that the French would try and take over. • This is the first permanent European seAlement in what is now the United States. • Spanish control was threatened as English colonies spread southward. In 1693 the Spaniards announced that enslaved Africans who fled to Florida would be protected. • Since they were also promised land if they would help protect the colony; hundred arrived during 1700s • Spain’s Florida colony grew slowly. By 1763, there were only 3 major seAlements there. • All of these seAlements were centered around forts; and they all were in the north. • The Spanish had very liAle control over the rest of Florida. St. Augus0ne, Florida • Spain’s most important colonies were in South America and Mexico • The area north of Mexico was called the borderland (large fron0er) • The main func0on of these borderlands was to protect Spain from other European powers • They began in the east with Florida; included Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California • The areas differed greatly from place to place. Spanish Borderlands • Juan de Onate led a Spanish expedi0on into New Mexico in 1598 with 3 goals: (1) Find Gold (2) Convert Na0ve Americans to Chris0anity (3) Establish a permanent colony • He never found gold, but in 1598 he established Spain’s first permanent seAlement in the region; Santa Fe. • Juan brought more than 300 horses. The Spanish used na0ve Americans to look afer them at their seAlement. • When some Na0ve Americans ran away from the Spaniards, they took the skill of horseback riding with them. This is how it spread from one Na0ve American group to another. • Na0ve Americans suffered under Spanish rule. In 1680 a group rebelled and drove the Spanish from New Mexico. They would not return for over 10 yrs. Missions in Texas and Arizona • Roman Catholic missionaries played a key role in colonizing the borderlands. • They established missions to convert Na0ve Americans to Chris0anity. • At the missions, priests taught about Catholicism and made Na0ve Americans work by set rules. • Father Eusebio Francisco Kino was the missionary who paved the way in Texas and Arizona. • The only success was a mission in Texas; it didn’t convert many Na0ve Americans but it distracted Spanish colonists. This became San Antonio. Missions Along the California Coast • Spain’s California missions were especially important; began colonizing it in 1769. • Junipero Serra was the missionary who founded what is today, San Diego. • He later founded what is today Los Angeles and San Francisco. • Altogether, the Spanish founded about 20 missions in California between 1769 and 1800. Presidios & Pueblos • Presidio – a military post set up to defend a mission • Pueblos – Civilian towns • Pueblos were the center of farming and trade. In the middle was a plaza or a square. It was here that townspeople came to worship at the church. Life in the Spanish Missions • Thousands of Na0ve Americans labored at the missions; farming, building churches, and learning a wide range of crafs. • They ofen worked from 5 to 8 hrs. per day and 5 or 6 days per week. They never worked on Sunday or spiritual holiday’s. • Na0ve Americans had no control over their lives; they were punished harshly when they violated rules; they were imprisoned and ofen kept in shackles and whipped • They ofen rebelled; but thousands died. I.  Spanish Colonies A.  Spanish Florida B.  SeAling the Spanish Borderlands 1.  Juan De Onate in New Mexico 2.  Missions in Texas and Arizona 3.  Missions along the California coast 4.  Presidios and Pueblos C.  Life in Spanish Missions