The Growth of Missions

• Thinking the French still wanted to occupy Texas, Spain decided to secure East Texas.

• The viceroy ordered new missions to be built in East Texas.

• The Spanish asked Frenchmen Louis St. Denis to guide Spanish soldiers and families because of his good relationship with the Native Americans.

New Missions in East Texas

• The Spanish arrived at the site of the original San Francisco de los Tejas and founded a new mission they called Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas.

• Within a year, 6 other missions were established. Antonio Margil de Jesus also helped found many, including San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, which became the most successful.

• A presidio, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de los Tejas, was also built for protection.

San Antonio is Founded

• The Spanish realized they needed a mission between the Rio Grande and the East Texas missions because supplies were slow or short.

• They either traded with the French, or were forced to starve.

• They proposed a colony midway between the two.

• They chose a spot near the San Antonio as the best choice, and, in 1718, built Presidio San Antonio de Bexar. This would later become the city of San Antonio.

Success

• The soldiers brought families, contributing to settlement growth.

• Eventually, a chapel, originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero, would eventually become known as the Alamo.

• In 1748, José de Escandón, a military commander, would be given land from Mexico to the San Antonio River. He would eventually found 20 more settlements and became known as the "The Father of the lower Rio Grande Valley."

Spain and France at War

• France declared war against Spain in 1718, but the word did not reach the French settlement in Natchitoches until June 1719.

• They attacked San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes mission because it was the nearest Spanish target, which was easily taken.

• After sharing the news, the French then attacked Pensacola, Florida, and sent 100 soldiers to East Texas to attack.

• Settlers in the nearest Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Mission fled to San Antonio fearing the attack of the French.

France Strikes First

• The viceroy sent Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo on an expedition to meet the incoming French troops in East Texas.

• It took nearly two years for the expedition to reach the area.

• By then, the Spanish had to get their land back instead of defending what they already had claimed.

Defending Spanish Lands

• Aguayo marched to Texas with 500 soldier-settlers and supplies. He reopened most of the missions that were abandoned and moved Presidio Nuestra Señora de los Dolores.

• Aguayo built a new presidio near the French Natchitoches called Nuestra Señora del Pilar de los Adaes to stop the threat of the French.

Securing Texas

• St. Denis was the commander at French Natchitoches and protested that Nuestra Señora del Pilar de los Adaes was in French territory, however, he did nothing to stop it.

• This made officials realize the needed more supervision and created Los Adaes, which became the unofficial capital for 50 years.

• Aguayo then sent a detachment to La Salle's old fort and established presidio, La Bahia, and later, Mission La Bahia.

Securing Texas

Because the Native Americans did not want to convert, La Bahia and the presidio were moved.

• Again, they moved away from the bay, near now Goliad, by the San Antonio River to secure the road between Mexico and Bexar.

• Aguayo was able to leave 10 missions where later there had been few. He also connected the coast and several cities. Aguayo secured the Spanish and supplies, and the French did not threaten them again.