Chapter 6: The Spanish Missions

Section 5: Life in Spanish Texas

Bellwork

•List examples of how Spanish culture has influenced life in present-day Texas.

Why are we studying this?

Many states in the American Southwest still show signs of a

strong Spanish influence.

Life in the Spanish Missions

•Spanish wanted the Indians to live inside the missions

Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción

has stood in San Antonio since the mid-1700s.

Life in the Spanish Missions

•Daily work consisted of prayer and work

•Day started at dawn with Mass

Life in the Spanish Missions

•Indians worked under the direction of priests and soldiers

•Men: tended crops of beans corn, and cotton

Life in the Spanish Missions

•Women: made pottery, cared for livestock, wove cloth, and ran the mission kitchen

•Day ended with prayers and dinner—usually a thin cereal

Life in the Spanish Missions

•Spanish hoped the Indians would give up their traditional celebrations

•Indians would often leave the mission during the hunting season

Life in the Spanish Missions

•Harsh life—dirt floors and open windows

•Food often scarce in East Texas Missions—Indians would help during hard times

Life in the Spanish Missions

•San Antonio and El Paso missions had the best conditions

Mission San Jose

Life in the Presidios

•Missions more likely to succeed with a presidio nearby

Presidio de Nuestra Senora de Loreto de la Bahia,

Life in the Presidios

• Built of adobe, stone, and timber

• Had a chapel, barracks, storage rooms, and headquarters

Artist’s conception of a Spanish presidio

Life in the Presidios• Duties:

Guarded missions and supervised Indians

• Risky work

• Low pay and poor equipment Spanish frontier soldier

Life in the Presidios

•Some soldiers in presidios brought their families with them

•Often disagree with missionaries over treatment of Indians and who had the higher authority

Life in the Settlements

•Diverse population of Spaniards, Indians, and African Americans

•Most African Americans brought to Texas as slaves

Life in the Settlements

•Towns had streets, bakeries, stores

•Largest town was San Antonio

Life in the Settlements

•San Antonio—first town to let people participate in the government

•Ayuntamiento—governing council of a Spanish settlement in Texas

Life in the Settlements

•Alcalde—Spanish official who served as mayor, sheriff, and judge of a Spanish settlement in Texas

Life in the Settlements

•Farming and ranching important to economy

•Vaqueros—Spanish cowboys

Life in the Settlements

•Horse riding used to provide entertainment

•Social activities focused around the family and church

Life in the Settlements

•The Spanish strongly influenced Texas:

–Missions serve as churches

–First roads

Life in the Settlements

–Place names

–Introduced Cattle & horses to America

–Art, architecture, food, language, & music