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European Explorers and Missions Review

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 9mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Europeans explorers of Texas were strongly motivated by-

a)

the quest to find a new political capitol of Spain

b)

a need to find the mouth of the Mississippi River

c)

the desire to spread the practice of enslaving people

d)

an intense competition between nations to claim land and find gold.

2.

Europeans explored The New World for all of the following reasons EXCEPT to—

a)

seek riches

b)

spread illness

c)

seek new lands

d)

spread religion

3.

After hearing stories about the Seven Cities of Cibola, which of the following explorers was one of the first to travel across Northern Texas?

a)

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

b)

Francisco Vásquez de Coronado

c)

Christopher Columbus

d)

René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle

4.

Which explorer first introduced Catholicism to Texas through his interactions with the Native Americans he encountered on his travels?

a)

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

b)

René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle

c)

Francisco Vásquez de Coronado

d)

Christopher Columbus

5.

This French explorer claimed part of Texas for his country. He helped establish Fort St. Louis in Texas in 1685.

Who was this explorer?

a)

Robert La Salle

b)

Christopher Columbus

c)

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

d)

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado

6.

The MAIN reason La Salle traveled to North America was to —

a)

find gold for Spain

b)

expand the fur trade for the French Empire

c)

fight the Spanish

d)

spread Christianity

7.

The French attempted to settle along the mouth of the Mississippi River and further west along the coast of Texas because it would allow them to —

a)

establish missions in highly-populated areas.

b)

block the only route back to Spain.

c)

control trade in the Gulf of Mexico.

d)

find the oil that they were seeking.

8.

Which of the following best explains the impact of René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle on the settlement of Texas?

a)

After claiming the land that is now called Louisiana and sailing back to France, he was sent back to the New World to establish a colony in the area. His ship sailed off course during the journey and wound up in Texas, where he established a colony and claimed the land for the French.

b)

During his first voyage to the New World, he established numerous missions in Texas. His success encouraged the King of France to send more missionaries to the area.

c)

During his first voyage to the New World, he established a friendly relationship with the Karankawa tribe and became the first French explorer to trade with Native Americans. The Karankawa made him their chief.

d)

After claiming the land that is now called Mexico and sailing back to France, he was sent back to the New World to gather as much gold as he could. He noticed the coast of Texas as his ship sailed further north in the Gulf, so he built a fort and began to search for more gold.

9.

Which of the following first caused Spain to become more serious about settling Texas, rather than simply exploring it?

a)

The discovery of Palo Duro Canyon by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado

b)

The building of Fort St. Louis by Robert la Salle

c)

The imprisonment of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca at the hands of Native Americans

d)

The success of the first mission built by Alonso de León in southern Texas

10.

Which of the following best explains Spain's motivation for becoming more serious about colonizing Texas?

a)

they heard that there was still gold in Texas that had not been claimed

b)

they wanted to be the first to establish trade with the Native Americans

c)

they wanted to keep France from claiming even more land than they already had.

d)

they were primarily trying to find natural resources to bring back home

11.

The painting is entitled "The Plaza and Church of El Paso" and was painted by Agustus Guy de Vaudricourt during the 1850s.


While many different motivations led to the European exploration and settlement of Texas, this painting best represents —

a)

the search for natural resources.

b)

the desire to spread Christianity.

c)

the search for new economic opportunities.

d)

the desire for glory for one's home country.

12.

Directions: Use the map to answer questions 15 and 16.


According to the map above, Spanish missions were started mainly in the -

a)

Great Plains Region

b)

North Central Plains Region

c)

Coastal Plains Region

d)

Mountains and Basins Region

13.

According to the map above, Spanish missions were started near -

a)

stores

b)

basins

c)

mountains

d)

rivers

14.

The Spanish began to establish settlements and Catholic missions in Texas in the —

a)

1400s.

b)

1600s.

c)

1500s.

d)

1700s.

15.

Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons Catholic missions were established in Texas?

a)

To help LaSalle claim the land for France

b)

To make Native Americans citizens of Spain.

c)

To convert Native Americans to Catholicism

d)

To gain control over all the land on which each mission was built

16.

Which of the following was the first Spanish mission established in Texas?

a)

San Antonio de Valero

b)

San Francisco de los Tejas

c)

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

d)

San José de los Nazonis

17.

Directions: The picture shows José de Escandón, an important figure in Texas history. Use the picture to answer any questions that follow.


José de Escandón is known as the —

a)

founder of the Golden Triangle.

b)

"father" of the lower Rio Grande Valley.

c)

discoverer of the Seven Cities of Cibola.

d)

"conqueror" of the South Plains.

18.

Which of the following best explains the importance of José de Escandón to the settlement of Texas?

a)

He was the first explorer to travel across and map the coast of Texas.

b)

He encouraged the King of Spain to establish settlements in Texas after sending him letters detailing the lost cities of gold he learned of on his travels.

c)

He founded over twenty cities and established many missions throughout Texas.

d)

He was captured by a group of Native Americans, causing Spain to decide that it must establish colonies to better protect its citizens.