Spanish Settlement
in Texas
Spanish Missions
1714-1718
WARM-UP
Look at the Picture on Page 133 in your textbook.
• Why do you think the Native Texans were hostile
toward the Spanish?
• What evidence can you find?
France was interested in trading with the Native
Americans to obtain items such as furs and skins.
Why were the Spanish concerned about French
traders?
The Race to Claim Texas
• No gold was found in Texas, so Spain lost
interest
• France built Fort St. Louis on Matagorda Bay
for trade purposes
• Spain returns to Texas to protect its interests
• Fort St. Louis is a failure, so Spain again lost
interest in Texas
Spain Begins Building Missions
• 1682 First Spanish mission, Corpus Christi de
la Ystleta was built near El Paso.
• Early missions failed because:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Drought
Disease
They lacked food and supplies
Too much money for Spanish government to
maintain
Spanish Begins Building Missions
• 1717 Mission Los Adaes was built east of the
Sabine river
The most advanced and fortified of all the
towns and missions in Texas:
• 1718 Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo)
built
• 1718 Presidio San Antonio de Bexar built as supply
station for the East Texas missions.
Chicken War
• 1719 European war between France and Spain
(Chicken War)
a) French soldiers sent to capture Spanish mission
in Nacogdoches where they looted and stole
chickens
b) Several Spanish escaped, claiming a large French
force invaded Texas
c) Caused a panic and all Spanish were ordered to
leave East Texas.
d) Proved Spanish had a weak hold on East Texas
Spanish Return with a Vengance
• Spain returns to overcome its embarrassment
• Reasons why Spanish priests and soldiers moved
into Texas
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
To settle Texas
To make money from farming and ranching
To develop mineral resources (mining)
To keep French from developing a stronger hold in Texas
To bring Christianity to the Indians
Comparing French and Spanish
colonization efforts in Texas
French
Spanish
• Established Missions in
• Established East Texas
Biloxi & Mobile
positive
relations
• Drove Spaniards out with Texans • Became more determined
to reclaim TX after
of East Texas with
“Chicken War”
“Chicken War”
• Built trading posts at
Create a comic strip depicting
the Chicken Wars
Major Characters
• Lt. Philippe Blondel
• Spanish friar who exaggerates the events
• Captain Domingo Ramon
Highlights
• French attack on Spanish mission
• Friar’s account of the “war”
• Mass retreat of the Spanish from East Texas