7th Grade Mission life

​Mission LIfe

By Daniel Cisneros

Conlficting Views

Life in the missions and settlements was complex because different groups living in the same small area had different needs and viewpoints. Sometimes those needs conflicted. The friars were interested in converting Native Americans to Christianity and a Spanish way of life. Many Native Americans, however, had no interest in becoming Christians or giving up their ways of life. However, some did adapt to a life of work and prayer at the missions.

Friar's Responsibilities In the mission

In order to carry out their duty, friars left their homeland to spread their religion in a foreign land. Their daily lives were routined and well ordered. They had set times of day to pray, eat, relax, and study.

It was the job of the friars to bring Native Americans into the mission so they would adopt its routine of work, prayer, and meals. Friars were expected to teach Native Americans the Spanish language and Spanish customs, farming and ranching, as well as trades such as masonry, blacksmithing, pottery making, and weaving. Most importantly, mission friars were expected to make the Native American people accept the Catholic religion as their own and be baptized. Friars also provided for the religious needs of soldiers in the presidio and the Spanish settlers.

Open Ended

What are four things friars were expected to do?

Native Americans were not forced to live at a mission. Many agreed to for protection from their enemies. At times they might leave the mission to take part in traditional practices, such as their own cultural events, hunting, or trading with other Native Americans. However, while there, they followed the mission routine. They began the day with prayer and religious instruction and afterward gathered for breakfast. Then it was time to work—farming, tending livestock, or learning a trade or craft. At noon they gathered for lunch, rested, and then returned to work until sundown. After more religious practice, they ate and then slept.

Multiple Choice

Why would native Americans move to a Mission?

• For Money

• For Protection

• For Education

• For New jobs

Open Ended

Describe the typical day of a Native American living in a Mission.

Friars and soldiers differed in their views of whether to use force or to be more accommodating with the Native Americans. The mission staff felt that the soldiers had a poor relationship with the Native Americans. This caused the presidios to be built at some distance from the mission. If the mission was under attack, though, the soldiers were then too far away to help in time. Also, this isolation could sometimes prevent the friars and the soldiers from working well together.

Open Ended

How did the relationship between Native Americans and soldiers impact the missions?

A Soldiers Life

A soldier’s life alternated between excitement and boredom. His chief task was to protect the mission and settlers from attacks by the French and raids by Native Americans. Although Native Americans were not forced to enter the missions, soldiers were sometimes sent out to help bring back people or groups who left. Soldiers also conducted supply trains, escorted groups of settlers, and carried the mail. The rest of their time was spent in routine tasks, such as tending horses and maintaining the presidio. Soldiers also spent long hours on guard duty.
Soldiers’ pay was low, and it was often late due to the isolated locations of the presidios. Soldiers had to buy their own uniforms, guns, ammunition, and food. Often they paid their commanding officers for these items. The officers overcharged the soldiers, forcing them to stay in the army to pay off the debt.

Multiple Choice

The Main Responsibility of the Soldiers was to ____

• establish trade with the British

• Protect the missions from the French and Natives

• Protect the missions from the British and the Natives

• Establish trade with the French

Open Ended

What were at least 2 other responsibilities of the soldiers?

Open Ended

What were some negative aspects of being a soldier?

Settlers were often the wives and children of the soldiers. They raised livestock, and ran ranches. As settlements grew, they attracted craft workers and merchants
The Spanish colonial period is the story of Texas diversity. People of Spanish, Mexican, Native American, and African ancestry intermarried and raised children. Through language, custom, and tradition, all these cultures came to influence Texas.
People of Mexican heritage came to consider Texas home. The locations of many missions were far enough from Mexico that residents began to develop a unique culture. These Mexicans in Texas were referred to as Tejanos. Tejano culture continues to be a strong influence throughout Texas to this day.
Also among the settlers were mestizos, people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage. There were also African Americans in Spanish colonial Texas, both enslaved and free. Some African Americans were free farmers, property owners, and tradesmen. Their cultures and experiences would also contribute to the diversity of Texas. The majority of slaves were brought to Texas in the 1800s

Open Ended

What were four different ethnic groups in colonial Texas?

Native American life in missions

Native American groups like the Coahuiltecan, were nomadic and traveled to areas to hunt and gather food. Other groups, like the Apache and Comanche, were warrior cultures. Their use of horses let them travel farther and faster and gave them advantages in battle. The main reason some Native Americans agreed to live in missions was for protection from enemies. Apache and other warrior groups were less likely to attack people within missions and protected by presidios. Missions also gave native peoples a greater and more dependable supply of food. As Native Americans adapted to mission life, they tried to maintain their own traditions, for example, by hunting and trading with other native peoples. Native American disinterest and disease were two factors in the failure of many missions. Sometimes Native Americans decided that the food and security offered by the missions did not outweigh the advantages of their traditional lifestyles. Many others became sick with European diseases imported by the Spanish. Deaths due to disease kept many missions from growing.

Open Ended

What were two reasons Native Americans would be attracted towards missions? What were two reasons Native Americans lost interest in the missions?