Spanish Exploration and Impact in Texas

In 1528, a group of Spaniards, including Cabeza de Vaca, were shipwrecked on the Texas coast. They were the first Europeans in Texas, originally part of an expedition to Florida. After surviving and returning to Mexico, they reported on Texas, prompting further Spanish expeditions. These expeditions found rich landscapes and Native American tribes but no gold, leading Spain to abandon Texas until the 1680s. Despite their brief stay, the Spaniards left behind diseases and horses, drastically impacting Native American populations and cultures.

What was the original goal of the Spanish expedition that ended up in Texas?

• To map the coastline

• To establish a new colony

• To search for gold in Florida

• To find new trade routes

Who was Cabeza de Vaca?

• A Spanish governor

• A Native American chief

• A famous explorer of the Arctic

• One of the survivors of the shipwreck

What did Cabeza de Vaca report about Texas?

• It was uninhabited

• It was full of gold and silver

• It had lush forests, swamps, and deserts

• It was a barren wasteland

What was the main reason for the Spanish expeditions in the 1540s?

• To establish trade with Native Americans

• To build military forts

• To find gold and silver

• To map the Texas coastline

Why did the Spanish leave Texas in the 1540s?

• They were defeated by Native tribes

• They found no gold or silver

• They were ordered back to Spain

• They ran out of supplies

What was one of the unintended consequences of the Spanish presence in Texas?

• Construction of large cities

• Spread of European diseases

• Discovery of oil

• Introduction of new crops

What was the impact of European diseases on Native American populations?

• They led to new medical discoveries

• They had little effect

• They caused a significant decline in population

• They improved immunity over time

How did horses transform Native American tribes in Texas?

• They started trading with Europeans

• They became more effective hunters and warriors

• They improved their agricultural practices

• They became more sedentary

By the time the Spanish returned in the 1680s, what had changed in Texas?

• The region was abandoned

• There were more European settlements

• Native tribes had become more powerful

• The climate had drastically changed

What question remains about the Spanish return to Texas in the 1680s?

• Whether they would build new cities

• Whether they would establish trade routes

• Whether they could control the region

• Whether they would find gold