People & places
Who is Alonso Álvarez de Pineda?
The first European to map the Gulf coastline from Florida to Mexico in 1519.
Who is Francisco Vázquez de Coronado?
This explorer led an expedition into the Texas Panhandle while looking for the legendary city of Quivira.
What was finding gold and silver (wealth)?
This was the Spanish Crown's primary goal for colonizing the New World, rather than converting Native Americans.
What are the Seven Cities of Cíbola?
The name of the legendary cities of gold and silver that never materialized.
What is "Mother of Texas Missions"?
This was the name given to Mission San Juan Bautista, since it became a supply point for other expeditions.
Who is La Salle?
This French explorer claimed the Louisiana region and established Fort St. Louis in Texas.
What is "friend" or "ally?"
The Caddo word Tejas, from which the name of Texas is derived, has this meaning.
What is "The Pass of the North?"
This is what the name El Paso del Norte means.
What was No Easy Gold?
This major economic reason caused the Spanish Crown and most settlers to lose interest in the territory.
What is a Spanish Presidio.
This military establishment's purpose was to protect missions, guard the frontier, and serve as a base for Spanish soldiers.
Who is Fray Francisco Hidalgo?
This friar sent a letter to the French asking for help to re-open the East Texas missions.
What is Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá?
The mission destroyed by Comanche and Wichita warriors, demonstrating Native American resistance on the Plains.
What was claiming the territory to prevent French settlement?
This was the main reason the Spanish founded Mission San Francisco de los Tejas in 1690.
What was the great distance from the safe supply center of Mexico City?
The reason Spanish Texas was difficult and expensive to protect and resupply.
What is a strategic mid-point or way station?
This is what the location of San Antonio was founded as, serving as a rest stop and supply post between the Rio Grande and East Texas.
What is Corpus Christi de la Ysleta?
This settlement, established in 1682, was the first permanent European settlement in Texas.
What is the Chicken War?
This 1719 skirmish in East Texas was caused by a French attack and led to the Spanish retreating to San Antonio.
What was to protect missions, guard the frontier, and serve as a base for soldiers?
The general purpose of a Spanish presidio, as it was a military fort.
What was the Hostile Native American Resistance?
This reason for failure involved groups like the Comanche and Wichita, who were highly mobile and well-armed.
What is El Paso del Norte?
The major crossing point on the Rio Grande for Spanish explorers and settlers on their way to New Mexico.
What is San Antonio de Valero?
The mission established in 1718, whose chapel later became known as the Alamo.
What was the Aguayo Expedition?
This important expedition reopened all of the East Texas missions following the Chicken War.
What is the great distance from the safe supply center of Mexico City?
The reason the Spanish found it difficult and expensive to protect, resupply, and govern Texas.
Who is Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca?
This key figure survived a shipwreck on Galveston Island (Isla Malhado) and was enslaved by the Karankawa.
Who were the Comanche and Wichita warriors?
The Native American groups who destroyed Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá.