LIFE IN MISSIONS AND PRESIDIOS

Uvalde Junior High

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.

Oppressive means unjust or cruel due to an abuse of power.

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:

1. Missions

2. Presidios

3. Pueblos

4. Ranches

These settlements strengthened Spain’s claim to Texas.

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 subject is 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.

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.

Four Walled Spanish Mission

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.

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.

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.

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.

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