6.3 The Spanish Return to Texas

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6.3 The Spanish Return to Texas
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A New French Threat

• After the settlement failures in East Texas, the
  Spanish ignored Texas for 20 years.
• Father Francisco Hidalgo wanted to return to East
  Texas and work with the local Indians. Spain
  said no.
• He wrote a letter to the French governor of
  Louisiana to help build missions. It was a
  daring move because France and Spain were enemies.

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A New French Threat cont.d

• French traded furs with the Native Americans at
  their trading posts along the Mississippi River
• Governor Cadillac of Louisiana saw Hidalgos
  letter as a way to begin trading in Texas.
• He send Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, an
  experienced explorer into East Texas. He could
  not find Hidalgo.
• He went to the San Juan Bautista presidio with
  lots of goods to trade.
• Presidio commander Diego Ramon arrested St.
  Denis, but treated him well
• After marrying Ramons step-granddaughter, St.
  Denis was sent to Mexico City for questioning

• St. Denis and the Caddo

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New East Texas Missions

• St. Denis told Spanish officials that he had
  traveled to Texas to look for Fr. Hidalgo.
• It is doubtful that the Spanish believed him
  because they were threatened by the French
  presence in Texas.
• Diego Ramons son Domingo, led an expedition
  through East Texas and St. Denis was the guide.
• When they arrived in East Texas the Caddo
  welcomed them warmly
• The spaniards built Nuestro Padre San Francisco
  de los Tejas. Fr. Hidalgo was put in charge.
• The Spanish built five more missions in East Texas

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• In 1716, Spanish officials approved to build a
  mission-presidio outpost along the San Antonio
  River.
• Spanish governor Martin de Alarcon led a group of
  colonists to the area in 1718.
• A priest, Antonio de San Buenaventura y Oliveras
  traveled with a separate group and met up with
  Alarcons group along the San Antonio River.

• The San Antonio River

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San Antonio Settlements

• They built San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo)
  which was simple and made of mud and straw.
• The group moved about a mile away and built a
  presidio named San Antonio de Bexar and
  established a small settlement called Villa de
  Bexar
• The San Antonio River area was a good place to
  settle.
• The Spanish built several more missions along the
  river.

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The San Antonio Settlements cont.d

• The missions soon became ranching centers
• Spanish officials brought 15 families from the
  Canary Islands to live near the presidio in San
  Fernando de Bexar.
• San Antonio became the halfway point on the Texas
  part of the El Camino Real.
• The El Camino Real was a dangerous road, but the
  Spanish used it to supply the East Texas missions