The Three Pillars
This institution was a walled compound with a central church and irrigated farmlands called acequias, built to convert Native Americans.
What is a Mission?
This French explorer triggered Spain's colonization efforts by building Fort St. Louis on Matagorda Bay in 1685.
Who is La Salle?
He co-founded the very first East Texas mission (San Francisco de los Tejas) alongside explorer Alonso de León in 1690.
Who is Fr. Damián Massanet?
Some Native groups joined missions seeking protection from aggressive enemy tribes like the Apache and this other prominent tribe.
Who are the Comanche?
This milestone year marked when Mexico finally won its independence from Spain, opening Texas to Anglo settlers.
This milestone year marked when Mexico finally won its independence from Spain, opening Texas to Anglo settlers.
This pillar of Spanish colonization served as a military fort used for defense and protecting roads.
What is a Presidio?
Fear of losing territorial claims to the French led Spain to found this very first mission in East Texas in 1690
What is Mission San Francisco de los Tejas?
He wrote a secret letter to the French governor asking for help to re-establish East Texas missions.
Who is Fr. Francisco Hidalgo?
Beyond protection, Native groups joined missions for a reliable supply of food and water during times of severe ______.
What is drought?
Corpus Christi de la Ysleta was built in 1682 near this modern-day Texas city.
What is El Paso?
San Fernando de Béxar and Nacogdoches were examples of this permanent civilian community and trade hub.
What is a Civil Settlement (or Pueblo)?
Established in 1718, this location served as a crucial midpoint supply station connecting remote East Texas missions to Mexico City.
What is San Antonio de Béxar (San Antonio)?
He founded Mission San José in 1720, earning it the title "Queen of the Missions".
Who is Fr. Antonio Margil de Jesús?
This was a major devastating reason many Native groups resisted or suffered inside missions, including outbreaks of smallpox.
What are European diseases?
Spanish geographic legacy lives on through the names of rivers like the Rio Grande, the Brazos, and this other major river.
What is the Colorado River?
This specific group of settlers was brought over from Spain/the Canary Islands to populate civil settlements like San Fernando de Béxar
Who are the Canary Islanders?
France ceded this territory to Spain in 1762, which suddenly made East Texas missions costly and no longer needed for defense.
What is Louisiana?
Displaced by the Rubí Report, he led settlers back east without permission in 1779 to establish the town of Nacogdoches.
Who is Gil Y'Barbo?
In daily mission life, cattle were managed by Spanish cowboys known by this term.
Who are vaqueros?
Name one of the two major Spanish legal legacies still used in Texas today regarding property or resources.
What are water rights OR community property laws for spouses? (Accept either)
Franciscan friars and these individuals made up the primary inhabitants inside a Spanish mission.
Who are Native converts (or Native Americans)?
This royal inspector recommended closing all missions except those at San Antonio and La Bahía.
Who is Marqués de Rubí?
His 1810 revolt (known as the Grito de Dolores) helped spark the collapse of Spanish rule in Mexico.
Who is Fr. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (Fr. Hidalgo)?
Mission agriculture relied heavily on building these specific water irrigation canals.
What are acequias?
American adventurers entering Texas illegally to stir up rebellion, such as Philip Nolan, were known by this term.
Who are filibusters?