Spanish Exploration of Texas

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Spanish Exploration of Texas

• Chapter 2 Notes

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I. New Spain

• A. 1492- Columbus discovered New World
• B. Reasons for Exploration- 3 Gs
• 1. Gold- riches in New World
• 2. Glory- men could become famous
• 3. God- Catholic Church spread to NW
• C. Problems with Texas
• 1. Indians
• 2. Other Countries wanted the land
• 3. Far from Mexico- few wanted to go to Texas

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Christopher Columbus
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II. Conquistadors

• A. Cortes- 1519-conquered the Aztecs Mexico
• B. Pineda- 1519- 1st to map the coast of Texas
• C. Camargo- 1520- Attempted to settle Texas on
  the Rio Grande (failed)
• D. Cabeza De Vaca- 1528-1535- 1st Spaniard to
  travel in Texas- captive of the Karankawas-his
  tales of Texas excited the Spanish in Mexico

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• E. Fray Marcos- 1535- looked for the Seven
  Cities of Cibola
• F. Coronado- 1540-1542- Looked for gold across
  Texas Panhandle- None found
• G. Cardenas- 1542- Discovered Grand Canyon
• H. De Soto- 1542- Discovered Mississippi River
• I. Moscoso- 1542- mapped East Texas
• J. Onate- 1601- mapped Texas Panhandle

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Hernando Cortes
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Cabeza De Vaca
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Francisco Coronado
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Hernan De Soto

• Discovered the Mississippi River, died before his
  group could get to Texas

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III. Results of Explorations

• A. Nothing of importance found in Texas by Spain
• B. Spain leaves Texas alone for 150 years
• C. Explorations gave Spain a claim to Texas

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IV. Columbian Exchange

• A. From American to Europe
• 1. Potatoes
• 2. Corn
• 3. Squash
• 4. Tobacco
• 5. Chocolate
• 6. Gold and Silver
• 7. Sugar

• B. From Europe to Americas
• 1. Horse
• 2. Guns
• 3. Alcohol
• 4. Deadly Diseases
• 5. Cattle and goats
• 6. Wheat
• 7. Technology

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V. First Settlements in Texas

• A. 1680s- Mission Corpus Christi de la Isleta-
  near El Paso- 1st permanent European settlement
  with the present boundary of Texas
• B. 1683- San Saba Mission- too far in Indian
  territory-

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VI. The French Challenge-1680s

• La Salle-1682
• Sailed down Mississippi River and claimed all
  lands drained by the river- enormous amount of
  land for France
• 2. Asked King of France for a colony

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• 1684- Brought 300 settlers to New World
• 1. Landed in Texas by mistake
• 2. Built Fort St. Louis for protection
• Problems-
• 1. Disease
• 2. Indians
• 3. Upset settlers
• 1687- La Salle shot in back, killed
• 1689- Few French left, some rescued

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VII. Spanish Settle in Texas

• A. Spanish in East Texas- insure Spanish claim to
  Texas
• 1. Build Missions there- San Francisco de los
  Tejas- 1690- Father Massanet
• 2. Problems shut down missions
• a. Diseases
• b. Floods
• c. Indians

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• B. 1716- Spanish go back to East Texas
• 1. Build 6 new missions
• 2. Spanish soldiers protect missions
• C. 1718- San Antonio established
• 1. Martin Alarcon- leader of group
• 2. San Antonio de Valero- 1st mission in San
  Antonio (10 families)
• D. El Camino Real- The Royal Highway connects
  East Texas to San Antonio and Mexico

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• E. Chicken War in East Texas- shows how
  vulnerable Spanish were. 1719
• F. 1721-Aguayo comes into Texas with 500 men-
  helps set up San Jose Mission in San Antonio
• G. Mission at Los Adaes in E. Texas insures
  Spanish presence. French influence declines
• H. 1749- Goliad- Mission La Bahia
• I. 1751- San Xavier- Rockdale- Indian problems
• J. 1757- Mission San Saba- Indian problems- had
  to abandoned- but the myth of silver has been in
  Texas history since. Jim Bowie is thought to have
  found this silver and put in down one of the
  wells at the Alamo.

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VIII. Spanish Life in Texas

• A. The missions that succeeded were the ones that
  the Indians accepted the Spanish way of life
• 1. Indians worked in the missions
• 2. Went to church twice a day
• 3. Were important to the every day life of the
  missions

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The Alamo, Mission San Antonio De Valero, 1st
Mission in San Antonio
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IX. B. Civilian Life

• 1. Government
• a. Ayuntamiento- council of landowners
• b. Alcalde- mayor, sheriff and judge
• 2. Fiestas- celebrations
• 3. Economy- based on farming and ranching
• 4. Social activities closely watched- courting-
  girls and boys chaperoned.
• 5. Vaqueros- 1st Texas Cowboy-

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IX. C. Military Life

• 1. Unpleasant for soldiers
• 2. Discipline harsh
• 3. Presidios managed badly
• 4. Officers could charge high prices to soldiers
  for basic necessities.
• 5. Low pay

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V. Social Classes in Texas

• A. Espanoles- Spanish born in Spain- small number
• B. Criollos- Spanish born in Mexico- fairly large
  number
• C. Mestizos- Mixed Blood 1/3 of population
• D. Mulattoes- remainder of group
• E. Indios- Indians- lowest group