Conquistadors from Spain explored and conquered areas in America in the 16th century, motivated by goals of spreading Christianity (God), finding gold, and achieving glory. While initially more focused on Mexico, the Spanish became concerned about French colonization efforts in Texas in the 18th century, renewing their own colonization attempts to maintain control over the territory.

1. Conquistadors came
from Spain to conquer
America
Explain what is going
on in this comic and
why it is funny. This
should take at least
two sentences.
Warm Up

2. Explorers
Age of Contact:
God, Gold, & Glory
Texas
History

3. Three things motivated explorers:
God, Gold, and Glory

4. Columbus...
• Sailed the ocean blue in 1492
• Landed in the Bahamas
o He was actually hoping to find trade
routes to Asia
• Started hunting for gold
o he could keep some of for himself, rest
went to the Spanish king and queen who
paid for the trip
• Established a colony and sailed back to report
his findings, eventually did four trips
• Columbus enslaved, tortured, or killed
thousands of native people

5. Glory!
Conquistadors - Spanish,
derived from Latin
conquirere "to search
for": a leader in the
Spanish conquest of
America in the 16th
century
• Conquistadors were
looking for wealth and
fame

6. Glory!
Expedition-a journey or
trip undertaken for a
specific purpose (such
as war or exploring)
• Conquistadors went
on expeditions
• They were sent to
conquer and claim
the land and people
for their country

7. Gold

8. Gold
• Spanish heard
there was gold in
Texas from Natives
• Spain came to U.S.
for gold
Europe Then

9. God
• The Catholic Church
supported the
expeditions
• Why would the church
do that??
• to spread Christianity to
Native Texans
• Gain wealth
Paul III
1534 – 1549

10. Alonso Álvarez de Pineda
• Spanish explorer and
cartogpher
• Spanish hoped for a
passageway through Mexico
to Asia
• Pineda mapped the Texas
coastline in 1519
• What he learned:
o No passageway through
Mexico to Asia
o Florida is not an island,
its a peninsula
Map he drew of
Texas coast!

11. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
• Left Spain on ship with crew of 600 to occupy North America
• Landed in Florida, began search for gold
o Disease as well as Natives killed many men
o Hiked about 300 miles and gave up on their gold hunt
o 242 still alive -> meaning 358 died so far
o Built ships to sail to Mexico

12. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
• Lost 204 at sea
o Survivors landed Galveston (called it "Island of Doom")
o Only 40 left alive -> Meaning 560 have now died
• Enslaved by Native Americans
• Four men survived to reach Mexico City
• Traveling with these four men de Vaca explored the interior of
modern day Texas, first known to have done this

13. Gold
Francisco Vasquez de
Coronado
• sent to search for the
Seven Cities of Gold
• They met a Native who
told them of a city of gold
he believed existed
• The expedition lasted
almost one and a half
years, making it to Wichita
Kansas
• Found no gold

14. Conflict between France and Spain
Sieur de LaSalle
• Given ships, colonists, and
soldiers by the French King
to start a colony at the
mouth of the Mississippi
• mistakenly lands in
Matagorda Bay
• Failed at establishing a
colony but named it Fort
St. Louis
because of disease
and attacks by native
people
Why do you
think?

15. Conflict between France and Spain
Sieur de LaSalle
• heads back home and is
shot by his own men
• Spain finds the French in
Texas and fears they are
trying claim Texas
o Spain renews its
colonization effort

16. The "Chicken War"
• French soldiers were sent
to capture a Spanish
mission in East Texas
• France was not getting
along with Spain
• French looted a mission
and captured French
soldiers
• Spanish were embarrassed
o Spain more determined
to hold on to Texas!

17. •Why were the Spanish not interested
in settling Texas?
•Why did the Spanish decide to
colonize Texas?
•How did the French influence the
settlement of Texas?

18. Questions?
• Why were the Spanish not interested in settling Texas?
• Why did the Spanish decide to colonize Texas?
• How did the French influence the settlement of Texas?
Spain was very busy. They were fighting wars at home as well as
managing significant colonies in Mexico. Also Texas did not appear to be
particularly profitable.
They were worried the French would take Texas through colonization,
they wanted to make sure it stayed theirs.
They were worried the French would take Texas through colonization,
they wanted to make sure it stayed theirs.