THE MISSION SYSTEM IN TEXAS

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THE MISSION SYSTEM IN TEXAS
WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT IT?
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PURPOSE

• LaSalles expedition alerted the Spanish to
  French presence in Texas
• If Spain wanted to retain Texas lands, it needed
  to occupy it
• Spanish church officials and the military built
  missions presidios to Christianize the Indians
  and protect the settlers, as well as claim land

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SIGNIFICANCE TODAY

• Many Texas cities today were founded as Spanish
  missions (EX San Antonio)
• The Spanish brought with them their language,
  culture, art, and music, which is still seen in
  Texas today

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LIFE AT THE MISSIONS

• Because the missions served the King (protecting
  his lands) and the church (Christianizing the
  Indians) the government church cooperated in
  the establishment of the missions.

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LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CONT.)

• Missions became self-sufficient, growing their
  own food and raising their own animals. They
  became schools for the Indians, teaching
  agriculture, different crafts trades, the
  Spanish language, reading writing, and of
  course the Catholic religion.

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LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CONT.)

• As the mission grew, so did the area around it.
  A presidio would house soldiers, and the addition
  of a pueblo (village) made the mission the center
  of activity for a vast area.

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LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CONT.)

• While in reality life at the missions was
  difficult and sometimes dangerous, people still
  found time to relax, like dancing fandangos,
  celebrating holidays other special days,
  creating rodeos, and horse racing.

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IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS

• Corpus Christi de la Ysleta
• founded in 1682 near present day El Paso, was
  the first permanent settlement of Europeans in
  Texas

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Corpus Christi de la Ysleta
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IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS

• San Francisco de los Tejas
• The first Spanish mission founded in East TX in
  1690 by Father Damian Massanet for the Tejas
  Indians

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San Francisco de los Tejas
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IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS

• San Juan Batista
• Built 5 miles from the Rio Grande River in 1699,
  it became a crossroads linking Texas to Mexico
  it was nicknamed Mother of Texas Missions as it
  was the supply base for East TX missions

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San Juan Batista
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IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS

• San Antonio de Valero
• Built in 1718 across from the presidio San
  Antonio de Bexar, it was established on the San
  Antonio River as a halfway point between East TX
  Mexico the chapel, built a few years later,
  was known as the Alamo

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San Antonio de Valero
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IMPORTANT TEXAS MISSIONS

• Santa Cruz de San Saba
• Built in central TX in 1759, 100 miles from the
  nearest Spanish settlement established in an
  attempt to convert the Apache Comanche Indians
  suffered numerous attacks

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Santa Cruz de San Saba
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CONCLUSION

• The mission system was very important to the
  development of Texas. Not only were some of the
  missions the beginning of what are today large
  cities, but the culture brought by the Spanish
  influenced the Native Americans agriculture,
  and still has a small impact today. Without the
  mission system, our history would be much
  different