USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The first Spanish missions were established in the 1680s near present-day San Angelo, El Paso and Presidio – areas that were closely tied to settlements in what is today New Mexico. In 1690, Spanish missions spread to East Texas after news surfaced of La Salle’s French settlements in the area.

Detailed explanation-2: -In response to French encroachment in the northeastern region of New Spain, the Spanish establish buffer settlements. Franciscan missionaries led by Antonio de San Buenaventura Olivares begin three missions: Los Adaes, La Bahia, and Mission San Antonio de Valero.

Detailed explanation-3: -How did Anglo colonization of Texas differ from Spanish colonization of Texas? Anglo settlers helped to build missions and presidios. Anglo settlers followed empresarios with land grants. Anglo settlers colonized along the border with Mexico.

Detailed explanation-4: -Spain’s primary goals in establishing a settlement in San Antonio were to provide travelers “an intermediate point on the long route between… [the missions]…in eastern Texas and those on the Rio Grande” and to provide defense “against any further French designs on the Matagorda Bay region” (Hoffman 1935: 4).