Spanish Colonial Texas

Spanish Colonial Texas

by Debra Bratina

​Lesson 2 - Settlements Grow

​4. Missions built between 1716 and 1722:

​

​1716 Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas

​

​1717 Nuestra Senora de los Delores and San Miguel de los Adaes

​

​1718 San Antonio de Valero

​

​1720 San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo

​

​(*San Antonio de Bexar)

​5. Who was Martin de Alarcon?

​

​ He was a Spanish official who supervised the building of Presidio San Antonio de Bexar on the San Antonio River. It secured a supply route leading to missions in the East Texas. The settlement would become the foundation for the city of San Antonio.

​6. Significance of 1718 in Texas history

​Construction started on San Antonio de Bexar which became the basis for the city of San Antonio

​7. France declares war on Spain p.150

​The French attack Los Adaes mission in 1719 because it was the closest Spanish settlement to Louisiana which was held by France. The mission was an easy target because it only had 1 friar and 1 soldier, so it was an easy French victory.

​8. Aguayo's Expedition p.151-152

​Aguayo built missions and presidios, added more than 200 soldiers in Texas, and set a supply route between La Bahia and Matagorda Bay.

The Spaniards and the Indians​

10 Multiple Choice and 4 Short answers​

​The Spaniards and the Indians - Questions

​11. The Coahuiltecans' way of life that made them interested in participating in mission life included not having enough food. The missions gave them food and the presidios gave them protection from the Comanche and Apache.

​

​12. Gente de razon is Spanish for "people of reason." The Spanish only accepted Hispanicized and Christianized Indians as people like them.

​​13. A typical day at a San Antonio mission for someone my age would begin with breakfast and prayer. Afterward, I would go help the adults with farming or other jobs. At noon, I would stop working and join others praying and then eating followed by siesta, a time to rest. Later, I would be taught Spanish and other Spanish ways of doing things. At the end of the day there are more prayers, a meal, then rest for the night.

​

​14. answer Yes or No, then explain why

​Lesson 2: Settlements Grow - Summary

​ Mission La Bahia was named after its first location near Matagorda Bay. The mission's name is Spanish for bay, a small body of water. The mission strengthened Spain's hold on Texas. Later, the mission was relocated first to the Guadalupe River to work with more willing Native Americans and then it was moved again along the San Antonio River in order to secure the road from Mexico to Bexar

​Lesson 3: Life in Spanish Texas

​Describe a day in the life of a Native American living at a mission in Spanish colonial Texas.

​

The Native Americans had to first pray and learn about Catholicism from the friars before having breakfast. After eating they would do work such as farming, ​ranching, or learn a trade or craft. At noon, they would eat again and then rest. At the end of the day, they participated in more religious practices before eating dinner and then going to bed.