Teaching you students about missions in Texas.? This power point covers the five most influential missions in Texas and the United States. Along with the explanation how the lessons and designs of each mission furthered the education in Texas and changed missions throughout the United States. Teaching through stones, purpose of missions, how they were designed, and their current role in history.

1. San Antonio Mission systemSan Antonio Mission system

2. Spanish Missions and Presidios
Spain had explored Texas but
found no gold or treasure.
When the Spanish found out the
French (La Salle) had built a fort
and settlement in Texas, they
became alarmed.
Spain did not want any other nation
to claim its territory.

4. Worried that France
would gain control in
Texas, Spain extended
its northern frontier to
the north and east.
Spain Responds
to a French Threat
Spain brought more
settlers and soldiers
to reinforce its claim
in Texas.
France Loses the
Race for Texas
With a firm hold
on East Texas,
Spain began
expansion efforts.
However, hostile
native groups
made the
Spaniards turn
back in the north
and west.
Spanish
Expansion
in Texas

5. Mission System
Goal
Represent Spanish
Government
Goal
Spread Christianity
and Spanish culture
Goal
Develop settlements
in Texas
Goal
Prevent other nation from settling in Texas

6. In 1718 at a good halfway point between the Rio Grande and
East Texas the Spanish established the most famous
mission - San Antonio de Valero,
“The Alamo”

7. Smallpox was only one of theSmallpox was only one of the
diseases that took the lives ofdiseases that took the lives of
thousands of American Indians. Inthousands of American Indians. In
1739 only 49 of its 300 native1739 only 49 of its 300 native
inhabitants survived a smallpoxinhabitants survived a smallpox
epidemic at the Mission San José.epidemic at the Mission San José.

8. Soon after the building of the Alamo,
a second mission was founded about five miles downstream.
Bronze replica of San Jose
(out front of present day mission)
Mission San Jose built in 1720

9. Mission San Juan (1731)
The mission was well known for its religious celebrations.
Picture through outside wall ruins

10. The oldest unrestored stone church in America.
Original fresco paintings are still visible inside several rooms.
Mission Concepción (1755)

11. The second oldest standing aqueduct system in the
United States, but the oldest standing aqueduct system in
Texas.
Mission Espada (1731)

12. The missions were led by Padres,The missions were led by Padres,
or Friars. They were priests of theor Friars. They were priests of the
Catholic faith whose duty in lifeCatholic faith whose duty in life
was to spread the word of God andwas to spread the word of God and
convertconvert Native Americans to theNative Americans to the
Catholic faith.Catholic faith.

13. The missions were designed by the Friars, or missionaries, but
actually built by the Native Americans they hoped to convert.

14. Friars taught Natives SpanishFriars taught Natives Spanish
methods ofmethods of agriculture*agriculture*, the Spanish, the Spanish
language, and culture.language, and culture.
Some Native Americans wereSome Native Americans were
content with their new way of life;content with their new way of life;
others hated the missions and triedothers hated the missions and tried
to revolt or attack the missions.to revolt or attack the missions.

15. Natives were expected to do all the work.
Building the missions, farming,
ranching, and carpentry, irrigating ditches,
growing vegetables, and cooking.
Each mission traded or sold goods to
nearby settlements and presidios,
sometimes making great profits
on food, man-made items, and cattle.

16. Mission Espada'sMission Espada's
aqueductaqueduct

17. The Spanish introduced the ranching
industry in Texas.

18. Soldiers lived inSoldiers lived in presidospresidos near anear a
mission.mission.
They supplied protection to theThey supplied protection to the
missions and the missions suppliedmissions and the missions supplied
them with food.them with food.
 If natives run away or revolted, itIf natives run away or revolted, it
was the soldiers who punishedwas the soldiers who punished
them, usually with whipping.them, usually with whipping.

19. Doors of San JoseDoors of San Jose

20. The mission bells were
one of the most important
things of mission life.
The bells controlled
everyone; when they woke
up, when they ate meals,
when they went to work,
and when they went to
church.
This was one of the
hardest things for the
Native Americans to
understand.

21. What do
the
locations
of
the missions
have in
common?
Why do
you think
that this
was
important?

22. Teaching through stonesTeaching through stones
Similar to sign language, the SpaniardsSimilar to sign language, the Spaniards
used stones to help symbolize words andused stones to help symbolize words and
beliefs in order to further communicatebeliefs in order to further communicate
with the new natives to the mission.with the new natives to the mission.

23. What symbols do you see in theWhat symbols do you see in the
arch at San Jose?arch at San Jose?
Angel- Thus stating the
mission is the link between
Heaven and Earth.
Pomegranate- Represents
unity, the fruit has many
seeds inside one fruit,
similar to a large
congregation inside the
single church.

24. Explain why the date 1718 isExplain why the date 1718 is
important to Texas history.important to Texas history.
Why do you think this mission wasWhy do you think this mission was
important to Texas history?important to Texas history?