Texas History Ch. 5-6
1519: De Pineda
maps the Gulf of
Mexico coastline
and sees Texas
coast for first time
1528: Cabeza de
Vaca is
shipwrecked on
Texas coast and
meets Karankawas
Cabeza de Vaca and
his companions
found Texas to be
harsh.
He wrote 1st European
account of life in
North America.
Cortes led the
conquest of the
Aztec Empire.
 Indians told Spanish
tales of cities of gold in
the region
 Spanish were able to
defeat large groups of
Indians with superior
armor, weapons,
horses, and killing
them by spreading
European diseases
 Diseases killed the
Indians but did not kill
the Europeans because
Indians had not been
previously exposed to
those diseases.
 Besides disease, food
and animals were part
of the Columbian
Exchange.
 Conquistadores
wanted to find Gold,
spread Catholic
religion, and obtain
Glory and land.
 They did NOT want
to befriend the
American Indians
 Coronado looked for
gold at Cibola and
Quivira
 When Fray Marcos
and Estevanico
reached what they
thought was a golden
city, Estevanico was
killed by the Indians.
 Antonio Margil de
Jesus was a Franciscan
who founded
missions in Texas.
 Alonso de Leon and
Damian Massanet
established San
Francisco de los Tejas.
 Daily life in a mission
included working and
praying.
 Native Americans had
to stay inside the
mission walls.
 Native Americans often
contracted diseases
from Europeans inside
the mission.
Tejas Indians
turned against the
Spanish after a
disease outbreak
killed many
Indians.
 Both the Spanish
and American
Indians claimed the
same land.
 Apaches became
feared enemies of
the Spanish after
they obtained
horses.
 Presidios were
established to
protect the
missions.
 Presidio soldiers
guarded the
missions and
protected the
Spaniards’ herds of
horses.
Spanish interest
declined in 1540s
when explorers
failed to find gold
or other treasure.
Names, language,
architecture, art,
food, Catholicism,
cowboy culture,
and music are all
evidence of Texas’
Spanish heritage.
Father Hidalgo
asked the French
for help in
establishing East
Texas missions.
Louis de St. Denis
traveled to Texas
to find Father
Miguel Hidalgo.
 To strengthen their
claim to Louisiana
 To gain a military
base from which to
conquer New Spain
 To discourage other
Europeans from
moving into the
area
 They did NOT come
to trade with
Apaches and
Comanches in
central and west
Texas
 1685: La Salle
established Fort
St. Louis
 Fort St. Louis was
attacked and
overrun by
American Indians
Spanish once again
were interested in
Texas after the
French began
exploring the area.
1718: San Antonio
settlements were
founded; 1st
organized civil
government in
Texas was in San
Antonio.
The major
economic
activities in
Spanish Texas
were farming
and ranching.