SPANISH SETTLEMENT IN TEXAS: MISSIONS AND PRESIDIOS

What was the purpose of the East Texas missions and presidios?
To secure (to hold on to) Spains claim on Texas. To keep the French out of Texas
Missions San Francisco de los Tejas and Santisimo Nombre de Maria are
Missions 1
established near the Neches River in East Texas by Alonso de Leon and Father
Massenet.
Why did these missions fail?
Drought, Disease, Distance from Mexico, Native Americans did not want to work
in the missions or convert to Christianity, lack of supplies.
What was Alonso de Leons important task before he went to establish the
East Texas Missions? Find and destroy Fort St. Louis
Missions 2
Ramon Expedition: In response to Father Hidalgos letter French Officials send
St Denis to Mexico to talk about bringing French Priests to Texas. St Denis is
Ramon
arrested and then falls in love with Captain Ramons granddaughter. Captain
Expedition Ramon bring St Denis along as a guide as he sets out with 65 priests, soldiers,
settlers as well as many cattle, sheep, goats, and horses to East Texas. From 17161718 they established six missions and a presidio along the Neches River in East
Texas.
1718 San Antonio de Valero is established in San Antonio.
San Antonio would serve as the half way point for supply trains headed to the East
Texas missions.
This mission will become known as what? Alamo

Missions 3
Marques de
Aguayo

What was the 1719 Chicken War? What Happened?

France and Spain were at war in Europe. When he learned about
the war French Lieutenant Philippe Blondel in Louisiana took six
soldiers to capture the Spanish mission at Nacogdoches. Blondel
and his men took the mission and Blondel took several chickens
that he tied to his saddle the chickens began squawking and
flapping wildly. Blondels horse reared up, and threw him to the
ground. In the confusion one of the friars was able to escape to
Presidio Dolores on the Neches River. He greatly exaggerated the
event, he claimed that a large French force was invading Texas.
Captain Domingo Ramn ordered all Spaniards to leave East
Texas and retreat to San Antonio de Bxar. Without even trying,
the French had run the Spaniards out of East Texas. The Chicken
War, proved that the Spaniards had a weak hold on East Texas.
Marques de Aguayo: Marques de Aguayo with 500 men, 2800 horses, 4800
cattle, 6400 sheep and goats. Reopened all six east Texas missions Los Adaes
becomes the capital of Spanish Texas.
During this time period Aguayo asked the Spanish Viceroy to send 400 settlers
from the Canary Islands to be sent to build the population of San Antonio. In
1731 the first Canary Islanders arrive in San Antonio.

As the French were no longer a threat in Texas Spain began to reduce the number
of soldiers in East Texas leaving the Missions vulnerable to attacks by Native
Americans. Most of the east Texas Missions closed or moved to San Antonio.
Spanish
Expansion
Pg 130-133

North:
Disease, Priest and Presidio commander had disagreements, Apaches attacked the
mission, Native Americans did not accept mission life, Drought

Failure

South
Missions and settlements did not fail
East
Native Americans did not want accept mission life, hurricane, Spanish abandon
the site.
West
Commanches attacked the missions twice, Apache did not want the mission life,

Marques de
Rubi

Mission: To inspect Spanish territory to see what changes need to be made.

Inspected all major Texas settlements and traveled as far east as Los Adaes.
Rubis Recommendations:
1. Move all east Texas mission to San Antonio
2. The capital of Texas should be moved from Los Adaes to San Antonio.
3. Spain should close the west Texas Missions
4. Spain should change their policy on the Apache and form an alliance with the
Commanche.
Recommendations adopted by King Carlos III:
The King adopted all of Rubi recommendations.
Read the Quote by the Marques de Rubi on Page 134. What does Rubi think
that Spain should do with San Antonio?
San Antonio was Spains most successful settlement in Texas and should be
given more soldiers to defend it until its population grew large enough to
defend itself.

What was the effect of establishing missions and presidios in Texas?

Spain was able to secure their claims on Texas and kept the French out.