Life In Missions and Presidios

1. Uvalde Junior High Life In Missions and Presidios

2. The Spanish Texans • In the late 1700s around 4,200 people lived in Texas in the San Antonio, La Bahia, Nuevo Santander, and Nacogdoches areas. • Some moved here to escape hacienda life in New Spain or oppressive taxes. Others hoped to get rich or find good jobs on ranches. • Oppressivemeans unjust or cruel due to an abuse of power.

3. Four Types of Frontier Settlements • Settlers tended to stay together for protection from the dangers of frontier life. • The types of settlements they lived in were: • Missions • Presidios • Pueblos • Ranches These settlements strengthened Spain’s claim to Texas.

4. Missions • The mission was the main tool for colonizing Texas. • One goals of a mission was to convert Native Americans to the Catholic religion. • Spain tried to make Native Americans subjects to the Spanish crown. A subjectis a person under the authority of a king or queen. • Spain would pay for the missions and priests would run them. • The missions were expected to support themselves.

5. Inside the Missions • Most missions consisted of a square compound enclosed by four walls. A compound is a fenced or walled in area containing residences. • The land outside the compound was used for farming and grazing. • The land inside contained offices and shops for carpentry, ironworking, and tailoring. • Church services were held in the chapel.

6. Four Walled Spanish Mission

7. Daily Life in the Missions • The day would begin with morning prayer and instruction in the Catholic faith. • After breakfast the people would go on to their daily work and children would go to school. • This was a very different life than what Native Texans were used to. Most Native Texans did not like this way of life. • Some tried to escape and some remained voluntarily.

8. Hard Times in the Missions • Many missions were not successful. The Native population began to shrink and women often died during childbirth. Some Natives died of European diseases. • The Natives did not like their new diets. • By the end of the 1700s Spain began to see the missions as being to expensive. • By 1800 26 missions had been built in Texas.

9. Presidios • Presidios provided military support for the missions. • They protected colonists from attack by Natives Texans. • Soldiers brought back natives who ran away from the missions. • They also guarded herds and supplies. • Presidios were rectangular with four large walls and one huge entrance.

12. Presidio Life • Soldiers enlisted for 10 years. • Work was hard and dangerous. • Native Texans were often hostile. • Often they did not get along well with the priests. • Soldiers were poorly paid. • They bought their supplies at a commissary, a store for military people. • Sometimes soldiers had to take extra jobs to get by. • Soldiers often married locals and settled there.

13. Write A Summary • Don’t forget pictures!