THE MISSION SYSTEM IN TEXAS

PURPOSE

• LaSalle’s 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

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

LIFE AT THE MISSIONSBecause the missions served the King

(protecting his lands) and the church (Christianizing the Indians) the

government & church cooperated in the establishment of the missions.

LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CON’T.)

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.

LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CON’T.)

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.

LIFE IN THE MISSIONS (CON’T.)

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.

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

Corpus Christi de la Ysleta

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

San Francisco de los Tejas

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

San Juan Batista

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

San Antonio de Valero

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

Santa Cruz de San Saba

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