the mission system in texas. purpose lasalle’s expedition alerted the spanish to french presence...
TRANSCRIPT
THE MISSION SYSTEM IN TEXAS
PURPOSE
• LaSalle’s expedition alerted the Spanish to French presence in Texas
• If Spain wanted to retain Texas lands, it needed to occupy it
• Spanish church officials and the military built missions & presidios to Christianize the Indians and protect the settlers, as well as claim land
SIGNIFICANCE TODAY
• Many Texas cities today were founded as Spanish missions (EX: San Antonio)
• The Spanish brought with them their language, culture, art, and music, which is still seen in Texas today
LIFE AT THE MISSIONSBecause the missions served the King
(protecting his lands) and the church (Christianizing the Indians) the
government & church cooperated in the establishment of the missions.
LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CON’T.)
Missions became self-sufficient, growing their own food and raising their own animals. They
became schools for the Indians, teaching agriculture, different crafts & trades, the
Spanish language, reading & writing, and of course the Catholic religion.
LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CON’T.)
As the mission grew, so did the area
around it. A presidio would
house soldiers, and the addition of a pueblo (village)
made the mission the center of activity
for a vast area.
LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CON’T.)
While in reality life at the missions was
difficult and sometimes
dangerous, people still found time to relax, like dancing
fandangos, celebrating holidays &
other special days, creating rodeos, and
horse racing.
IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS
Corpus Christi de la Ysleta
founded in 1682 near present day El Paso,
was the first permanent settlement of Europeans
in Texas
Corpus Christi de la Ysleta
IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS
San Francisco de los Tejas
The first Spanish mission founded in East TX in
1690 by Father Damian Massanet for the Tejas
Indians
San Francisco de los Tejas
IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS
San Juan Batista
Built 5 miles from the Rio Grande River in 1699, it became a crossroads
linking Texas to Mexico; it was nicknamed “Mother of Texas
Missions” as it was the supply base for East TX
missions
San Juan Batista
IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS
San Antonio de Valero
Built in 1718 across from the presidio San Antonio
de Bexar, it was established on the San
Antonio River as a halfway point between East TX & Mexico; the
chapel, built a few years later, was known as the
Alamo
San Antonio de Valero
IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS
Santa Cruz de San Saba
Built in central TX in 1759, 100 miles from the nearest Spanish
settlement; established in an attempt to convert
the Apache & Comanche Indians; suffered numerous
attacks
Santa Cruz de San Saba
CONCLUSION
The mission system was very important to the development of Texas. Not only were some of the missions the beginning of what are today
large cities, but the culture brought by the Spanish influenced the Native Americans &
agriculture, and still has a small impact today. Without the mission system, our history would
be much different