Missions. Presidios and Early Towns

Missions of Texas

1. Missions,Missions,
Presidios, Presidios,
andand
Early Early
TownsTowns
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2. Word Definition Illustration
Mission A religious settlement
MissionariesPeople who teach their religion to
others
Vaquero Cowhand or Indians trained to work
on ranches
Presidio A fort built mostly of wood, stone or
adobe
Plaza A town square, sometimes in the
center of town
Mestizo A person whose ancestors were
both Spanish and Native American
Revolt A fight against people in charge
Heritage The culture
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3. The MissionsThe Missions
•1682 the Spanish built Ysleta (the first mission) near 1682 the Spanish built Ysleta (the first mission) near
El PasoEl Paso
•Within 68 years more than 20 missions had been Within 68 years more than 20 missions had been
built in Texasbuilt in Texas
•Were run by Catholic priests, called missionariesWere run by Catholic priests, called missionaries
•The missions had many buildings inside. Some of The missions had many buildings inside. Some of
those are: those are:
•houses, houses,
•schools, schools,
•churches,churches,
•and workplaces were inside of mission wallsand workplaces were inside of mission walls
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4. Lessons that were taught by the missionaries Lessons that were taught by the missionaries
were:were:
•The first vaqueros were Indians trained by The first vaqueros were Indians trained by
missionariesmissionaries
•The Spanish languageThe Spanish language
•Spanish CultureSpanish Culture
•Catholic ReligionCatholic Religion
Native American jobsNative American jobs
•Women becameWomen became
•WeaversWeavers
•CooksCooks
•And took care of laundryAnd took care of laundry

5. •Men became
•cowboys
•sheperds
•carpenters
•blacksmiths, or
•fisherman
•Sometimes both men and women became
musicians
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6. Spanish Missions in TexasSpanish Missions in Texas
Corpus Christi
de la Ysleta del
Sur (1682)
The church at Mission Espíritu
Santo at its final location in
present-day Goliad.
Mission San Jose’ in San
Antonio, Texas - February
23, 1720.
66

7. Native American Quarters at the
Mission San Jose’ y San Miguel de
Aguayo
Mission Nuestra Senora de los
Dolores del los Ais was built to
keep the French out of Texas.
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8. Alamo DiagramAlamo Diagram
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9. PresidiosPresidios
•Forts built by the soldiers to protect the people Forts built by the soldiers to protect the people
living in and near missions – usually a small living in and near missions – usually a small
force of about 20 soldiers stayed in the force of about 20 soldiers stayed in the
presidios.presidios.
•They were mostly of wood, stone, or adobe.They were mostly of wood, stone, or adobe.
•They were surrounded by walls that were 10 They were surrounded by walls that were 10
feet tall that soldiers placed cannons on the feet tall that soldiers placed cannons on the
walls or in the small towers at the cornerswalls or in the small towers at the corners
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10. PresidiosPresidios
•Most had one main gate and sometimes a rear Most had one main gate and sometimes a rear
gate that were locked from the insidegate that were locked from the inside
•Inside were many buildings: Inside were many buildings:
•soldiers living quarters, soldiers living quarters,
•family quarters for the officer in charge, family quarters for the officer in charge,
•and possibly a doctor’s office and possibly a doctor’s office
1010

11. Presidio La BahiaPresidio La Bahia
1111

12. Early TownsEarly Towns
•1718-San Antonio de Bexar was started as a 1718-San Antonio de Bexar was started as a
mission and presidio, later a town would be mission and presidio, later a town would be
builtbuilt
•Another town built from a fort and mission Another town built from a fort and mission
was Nacogdoches in 1779was Nacogdoches in 1779
•Most early towns included a plaza and an Most early towns included a plaza and an
irrigation system that brought water from the irrigation system that brought water from the
closest riverclosest river
•Most settlers were mestizos that were Most settlers were mestizos that were
promised land and supplies by the Spanish if promised land and supplies by the Spanish if
they would settle in the new land.they would settle in the new land.
1212

13. •The early towns faced problems with The early towns faced problems with
Native Americans raids and fighting with Native Americans raids and fighting with
each other.each other.
•They also faced problems of drought, They also faced problems of drought,
floods, and diseases.floods, and diseases.
•Ranchos were set up in the Rio Grande Ranchos were set up in the Rio Grande
Valley area by the end of the 1700s.Valley area by the end of the 1700s.
•Ranchos raised cattle for the settlements Ranchos raised cattle for the settlements
and/or missions.and/or missions.

14. Nacogdoches – Old Stone FortNacogdoches – Old Stone Fort
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