5.2.1 What Impact Did the Arrival of the Spanish Have

5.2.1 What Impact Did the Arrival of the Spanish Have on the Southwest?

Dreams of Gold

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado was born in Spain in about 1510. In 1535, Coronado traveled from Spain to New Spain, what we call Mexico today. Coronado became a leader of one of the regions of New Spain. Coronado had heard reports that there were seven cities of gold to the north. In 1540, Coronado led an expedition to find these golden cities.

Multiple Choice

What was Coronado trying to find on his expedition?

• New Spain

• Spain

• the north

• golden cities

The expedition traveled north into the area of what is now the Southwest. Coronado and his crew traveled through the area of the modern states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. The expedition reached what today we call Kansas before turning around. On this expedition, a group of Coronado's explorers became the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon.

Multiple Choice

Coronado's explorers were the first Europeans to see what?

• the Golden Cities

• the Grand Canyon

• Spain

• New Spain

In each town he visited, Coronado failed to find the golden cities that he had set out to find. Coronado and his explorers battled Native Americans in several places. Coronado's men were often better armed than the Native Americans. As a result, Coronado's men often defeated the Native Americans.

Multiple Choice

Why were Coronado's men usually able to defeat the Native Americans?

• They had more gold.

• They had better weapons.

• They had seen the Grand Canyon.

• They were from Spain.

In 1542, Coronado returned to New Spain to give a disappointing report on the findings of his trip. Officials declared the expedition to be a failure. Officials even charged Coronado for his bad behavior on his trip, but he was found innocent of committing any crimes. Coronado was removed as the leader of the region of New Spain.

Multiple Choice

Did Coronado find the seven cities of gold?

• Yes and it made him famous and wealthy.

• Yes but then he couldn't find them again.

• No, he did not.

Spanish Mission System

After exploring the Southwest, Spain claimed it as New Spain and established more permanent settlements. The missions were settlements that spread the Spanish empire and its religion. Spain established some missions in Florida, but most extended from Texas to California.

Multiple Choice

The missions were settlements that spread what?

• the Spanish empire and its religion

• lies

• golden cities and other riches

• explorers

There were three key parts to the mission system. The mission itself was a place to worship and to educate people. The presidio was a fort with soldiers to protect the mission and enforce it's rules. The town and fields around the mission grew food and kept it supplied.

Multiple Select

What were the three key parts to the mission system? (pick 3)

• the presidio

• the golden city

• the mission

• the town and fields

• the horse stables

The heart of the mission was the church. Mission priests wanted to convert Native Americans but also wanted them to work for the mission. Native Americans did not often have a choice and were forced to convert and labor for the mission. Soldiers often fought with the Native Americans.

European diseases, such as smallpox, sickened and killed thousands of Native American people. Many Native Americans rebelled against the missions by running away or organizing attacks.

Multiple Select

Many Native Americans rebelled against the missions by doing what? (pick 2)

• dying of smallpox

• finding gold

• organizing attacks

• running away

San Miguel Mission

Today there is still evidence of the Spanish missions throughout the Southwest. There are buildings left from that time period. Many grew into thriving cities, such as San Antonio, Texas, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Santa Fe is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It was built on the site of an old Pueblo village. When Coronado passed through the area in 1540, he claimed it for Spain. As more Spanish people settled in the area, Santa Fe was established as the capital of New Spain in 1610. That was the year after settlers first arrived at Jameston, Virginia, and ten years before English settlers landed at Plymouth.

Multiple Select

Which are true of Santa Fe, New Mexico? (pick 3)

• established as the capital of New Spain in 1610.

• one of the golden cities Coronado failed to find

• one of the oldest cities in the United States

• built on the site of an old Pueblo village

The San Miguel Mission was founded that same year. Native Americans, under the direction of Spanish priests, built the San Miguel Chapel. This chapel is the oldest church in the continental United States.

Multiple Select

Which are true about the San Miguel Mission? (Pick 2)

• built by Native Americans

• is part of the seven cities of gold

• built by Pilgrims

• is the oldest church in the continental United States.

About 100,000 Native Americans lived in the area around Santa Fe. Only a small group of Native Americans, soldiers, and laborers lived at the mission itself. Today you can visit San Miguel Mission.

San Miguel Mission