Transcript Missions & Settlements

MISSIONS & SETTLEMENTS
Spanish Mission System
The Mission System
Three Goals of Spanish Mission System
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Represent Spanish government
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Convert American Indians there to Catholicism
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Develop settlements there
Four Types of Spanish Settlements
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mission – religious communities established by Spanish Catholics.
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presidios – military bases in colonial America
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ranchos – ranches
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towns/settlements
The Mission System
Spain Looks to Texas
As part of the settlement of New
Spain, friars in 1682 founded the
first permanent settlement of
Europeans in Texas.
It was located near present-day El
Paso for the Tigua Indians and was
called Corpus Christi de la Ysleta.
Spain Looks to Texas
Spain Looks to Texas
However, most Spanish activity
during the 1690s was in the Eastern
part of Texas, near French
Louisiana.
This was mainly because of La
Salle’s establishment of Fort St. Louis
in Texas. Spanish officials were
afraid that it would produce French
settlement throughout Texas
because of this Spain made a
stronger effort to colonize Texas.
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
Spanish Missions in East Texas
The first Spanish mission in East
Texas was dedicated on June 1,
1690.
It was a crude log building and
contained only a few simple
furnishings. It was named San
Francisco de los Tejas and was
located a few miles west of the
Neches River.
Spanish Missions in East Texas
Despite the promising beginning,
troubles soon struck San Francisco
de los Tejas.
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Drought ruined the crops
Disease killed many of the Native Americans
and one friar
The Tejas Indians rejected the Catholic
religion and resented Spanish attempts to
change the way to live.
Because of this and the realization
that France was not a threat, officials
in Mexico decided the mission must be
abandoned.
Spanish Missions in East Texas
Although the failure of the mission
was a disappointment, its mere
presence strengthened Spain’s claim
to Texas. Also, it made the Spanish
realize that they needed presidios
and Spanish families to settle the
land.
From 1693 to 1714, Spain made no
effort to settle Texas, but settlements
along the Rio Grande flourished.
France Threatens Again
Several years after La Salle’s venture in the
1680s, France made another attempt to
claim the lands drained by the Mississippi.
Unlike the Spanish, the French were not
interested in taking territory of converting the
Native Americans to Catholicism. The French
were more interested in making profit trading
blankets, guns, and wine for furs and skins.
The French also hoped to trade with Spanish
merchants in Mexico, but Spanish law
prohibited foreigners from trading with the
colonies of New Spain.
France Threatens Again
Without the knowledge of Spanish officials,
Father Francisco Hidalgo wrote a letter to the
French governor of Louisiana, asking them to
establish a mission among the Tejas.
The French governor appointed Louis de St.
Denis to negotiate with Spanish officials on
the Rio Grande. St. Denis arrived at San
Juan Bautista in July 1714 and the presidio’s
commander arrested him.
St. Denis insisted that France had no plans to
occupy East Texas. The Spanish viceroy did not
believe him and ordered new missions to be built
in East Texas with Spanish soldiers to protect
them.
San Antonio is Founded
Spanish officials saw the need for a
settlement between New Spain and the new
missions in East Texas because the 500 mile
journey from the Rio Grande to East Texas
was dangerous. Supplies arrived slowly, if at
all.
Spanish officials chose a site on the San
Antonio River as the best place for the
new settlement. A friar described it as
follows:
“The best site in the world, with good and
abundant irrigation water, rich lands for
pasture, plentiful building stone, and excellent
timber.”
San Antonio is Founded
Presidio San Antonio de Bexar was build on
one side of the San Antonio River, was built in
1718. Many soldiers brought their families,
began digging irrigation canals for farming,
and settled permanently.
Across the river Father Antonio de San
Buenaventura Olivares founded San Antonio
de Valero, better known as The Alamo.
San Antonio became the halfway point on the
Texas part of the El Camino Real, or “the Royal
Road”. This road led from the East Texas
missions to the southern Rio Grande settlements.
It continued south to Mexico City.
Life in the Mission
Spanish missions were busy centers of activity. The friars worked hard to persuade Native
American people to live close to the missions.
The Indian tribes that inhabited the territory of Texas prior to the coming of Europeans in the 16th
century engaged in a variety of religious practices. Most embraced, however vaguely, the concept
of a supreme being. They were not monotheistic, however, believing instead in a variety of
supernatural powers, organized in a hierarchy. For agricultural Indians, various ceremonies
accompanied planting and harvesting of crops, and nomadic Indians sought the help of spirits
before hunting expeditions for game.
Spanish missionaries hoped to teach the Native Americans the Spanish way of life. Gifts were
sometimes offered to make this life seem more attractive and sometimes the Spaniards used force
to get the Native Americans to settle near the mission.
Life in the Mission
The Native Americans who accepted mission
life were kept busy from dusk to dawn.
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Started with prayers
After breakfast, the children attended
school, including classes in religion.
The women wove cloth, molded pottery,
or cooked.
The men worked in the fields or learned
carpentry or blacksmithing.
After supper came more religion classes
for adults followed by prayers.
Life in the Mission
The European viewpoint of the activity of Native Americans in missions:
“These Indians are today well instructed and civilized
and know how to work very well at their mechanical
trades and are proficient in some of the arts. They
speak Spanish perfectly, with the exception of those
who are daily brought in…they go about well dress,
are abundantly fed.”
Life in the Mission
Although some Native Americans
adapted to mission life, most refused to
stay at the missions. They were not
accustomed to the strictly regulated
lifestyle.
Many did not want to become farmers
or blacksmiths or carpenters. Moreover,
Native Americans found it difficult to
leave behind a way of life that had
served them well for centuries.
End of Spanish Rule
In 1763 France lost the Seven Years’ War
Great Britain gained Canada and all French
land east of the Mississippi. While, Spain
gained New Orleans and all French land
west of the Mississippi.
With France no longer a force in North
America Spanish officials questioned whether
the East Texas missions and presidios were
needed.
In 1773, the New Spanish governor of Texas,
closed the four missions in East Texas and
ordered 500 settlers in the area to move to
San Antonio.
Nacogdoches Founded
The leader of the East Texans pleaded for
permission for the families to return to their
former homes. The Spanish governor of
Texas refused, but did allow some of them to
settle along the Trinity River.
They named their town Bucareli after a
Spanish lieutenant general and viceroy.
During the next four years, the colony did
well. Then crop failure, a smallpox epidemic,
and conflict with the Comanche's forced the
colonists to move.
In 1779 without government approval, led the
settlers back to East Texas timberlands and built
Nacogdoches.
The United States buys Louisiana
In 1800, Spain was forced to give Louisiana
back to France. In 1803, the United
States purchased the Louisiana Territory from
France for about $15 million. The territory
doubled the size of the United States.
This caused a controversy between the United
States and Spain about the boundary
between Spanish Texas and Louisiana.
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The United States insisted that the
American territory extended at least to
the Sabine River and possibly included
Texas.
The United States buys Louisiana
In 1819, the United States and Spain
signed the Adams-Onis Treaty, settling
the boundary dispute.
Spain gave Florida to the United
States and agreed to the Sabine River
as the eastern boundary of Texas. In
return, the United States gave up all
claims to Texas.
Hidalgo Calls for Independence
On September 16, 1810, Father Miguel
Hidalgo y Costilla issued a call for freedom
from Spain.
Many Mexicans were unhappy with Spanish
rule. The best jobs in Mexico were reserved
for men sent from Spain as administrators.
Spain increased Mexican taxes to help pay
for wars in Europe. This and other acts
greatly increased Mexican unhappiness.
For a time, Hidalgo’s forces did well in battle,
but eventually he was captured and
executed. This did not end Mexico’s fight for
independence.
Hidalgo Calls for Independence
“Mexicans, long live Mexico! Long live Our Lady of
Guadalupe! Long live Fernando VII! Down with the
bad government!”
-Father Hidalgo (Grito de Dolores)
Mexico Wins Independence
In September 1821 Mexico won independence from Spain .
Causes
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Wide economic and social divisions
between the rich and poor in New Spain
Effects
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Political corruption in Spain
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Examples of other revolutions, including
the American Revolution and those
occurring in Latin America.
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Father Hidalgo’s Grito de Dolores
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Creation of Mexico as an independent
republic
Economic ruin and loss of life in Mexico,
including Texas
Political instability in Mexico
Attempts to increase the Texas population
with immigrants from Europe and the
United States