Life in the Missions

1. Life in the Missions Chapter 3, Section 2 Pgs. 86-90

2. Main Idea: Missionaries were unable to bring about widespread Spanish settlement in Texas. *The missions aim - establish Spanish culture *Recruiting Native Americans: -The Indians who lived in missions came by choice. -Friars offered gifts like a steady supply of food and protection from attacks by Native enemies.

3. -Missionaries controlled the Indians once they entered the missions. -Indians were the main source of labor. -Planted/harvested the crops and cared for the animals. -Missions/presidios depended on this labor. -Spanish punished the Natives for not working or for what they thought was bad behavior.

4. *Religious Instruction: -One key purpose convert N. Americans to the Christian faith (Catholic specifically). -Strict schedule/rules on behavior. -Each workday began at dawn. -Religious meetings daily, said prayers, and learned the catechism. -Catechism is a set of questions and answers about Catholic beliefs.

5. -Some converted & were baptized. *Work: -Natives had to work. -This provided food, shelter, necessary goods, and goods for trade. -Missionaries used work to teach certain skills and the Spanish way of life.

6. -This way of life meant settling in one place and farming the land -Farming a full-time job -Raised sheep, goats, cattle, and other livestock. -Made soap, bricks, cotton goods and other products. -Natives helped build the missions, became skilled stone carvers, blacksmiths, and sewed clothes.

7. -The missions created Spanish communities -Became busy centers of trade – towns grew around missions. -Missionaries and soldiers also brought cattle and ranching to Texas…this industry would become vital to the future of Texas! *Government: -Spanish appointed some mission Indians to be local chiefs.

8. -Those chiefs had to carry out the orders of the missionaries. -Natives could vote in local elections and hold public office. *Problems with the Mission-Presidio System: • Disease • Indian rejection of mission life • Different uses of the missions • Problems at the presidio

9. *Decline of the Mission-Presidio System: -In 1767 it was reported that Spanish power in Texas was spread too thin. -The presidios could not protect missions -Indian attacks increased -On the basis of this report, Spain closed most the missions and presidios in Texas. -The effort to settle Texas with the missions and presidios FAILED!

10. *Legacy of the Missions/Presidios: -Spanish culture did not spread as far as the Spanish had hoped, but parts of culture did take root. -The term Tejanocame to describe this unique blend of cultures found in Texas. -Contributed the Spanish language and the ranching industry. -By the end of the 1700’s there were only three major Spanish settlements that remained in Texas: Nacogdoches, San Antonio, and La Bahia.