The U.S. & World from Exploration to Mexican Independence(1492-1821)

Directions: Create a timeline of events occurring in North America while the Spanish were exploring and settling Texas. Your timeline should include a title, 12 events, a key, and appropriately spaced dates. Put the events related to Texas in RED, the events related to the U.S. in BLACK, and the events related to the World in Blue.

Columbus begins the Age of Exploration Jamestown colony in Virginia founded by British Spanish build the first mission in Texas La Salle establishes the first French settlement in Texas French-Indian War begins (between the French & British) French-Indian War ends with the Treaty of Paris Spanish abandon missions in East Texas The U.S. declares independence from the British, and the American Revolution begins French Revolution begins Adam-Onis Treaty signed Mexican Revolution begins Mexico wins its independence from Spain, and Texas becomes a province of Mexico

Questions: Answer on your handout in complete sentences.

1. What other countries were exploring and settling North America besides Spain?

2. What country was in Texas around the same time that the Spanish built the first mission?

3. Why did the Spanish abandon their missions 10 years after the end of the French-Indian War?

4. What two countries fought a revolution and won their independence before Mexico?

5. How do you think this affected Mexico’s own revolution?

6. After Mexico won its independence, who gained control of Texas?

7. Based on your timeline how do you think world events affect each other? (3-5 sentences)

Columbus 1492

Columbus begins the age of Exploration

Christopher Columbus was a Italian navigator, colonizer and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean were funded by the Spanish crown. His exploration led to general European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere. Even though he was not the first to reach the Americas Columbus initiated widespread contact between Europeans and indigenous Americans. With his several hapless attempts at establishing a settlement on the island of Hispaniola, he personally initiated the process of Spanish colonization which foreshadowed general European colonization of the "New World." He can also be credited with the spread of goods and ideas, known as the Columbian Exchange.

Jamestown 1607

John Smith Pocahontas

The Jamestown colony in Virginia founded by British

Jamestown is located on Jamestown Island in what became known as the Virginia Colony. The colony was founded on May 14, 1607. It is commonly regarded as the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States of America, following several earlier failed attempts. It was founded by the Virginia Company, headquartered in London. John Smith, the first leader in the colony, ran into problems such as starvation, hostile relations with the natives, and lack of profitable exports. However, colonist John Rolfe introduced a strain of tobacco which was successfully exported in 1612, and the financial outlook for the colony became more favorable. Two years later, Rolfe married the young Indian woman Pocahontas, and a period of relative peace with the Natives followed.

First Mission 1682

Corpus Christi de la Ysleta

Friar

The Spanish build their first mission in Texas

Corpus Christi de la Isleta, the first mission and pueblo in Texas, was established by Antonio de Otermín and Fray Francisco de Ayeta in 1682. It was maintained by Franciscans (Friars) for Christianizing the Tigua Indians. The Tiguas had accompanied Otermín on his retreat to the El Paso area after his unsuccessful attempt to recover New Mexico in the winter of 1681-82. To the Tiguas, the mission church is known as San Antonio, after their patron saint, and they call the pueblo Ysleta del Sur. The site was also known by the Spaniards as Corpus Christi de la Isleta.

La Salle 1685

La Salle

La Salle establishes the first French settlement in Texas

Fort St. Louis was founded by French explorer René Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle and members of his ill-fated colony in 1685. Since its founding, it was a doomed defensive fortress for the struggling band of French colonists. The colony was established on the banks of Garcitas Creek, a few miles inland from the mouth of Lavaca Bay. The colony was the only attempt by the first at a settlement in Texas. A Spanish expedition led by Alonso de León came upon the remains of the fort in the spring of 1689, three or four months after the local Karankawa Indians had killed most of the remaining French colonists save for five children who were taken as captives.

French-Indian War 1754

End of French-Indian War 1763

Treaty of Paris

The French-Indian War ends with Treaty of Paris

The French and Indian War was also known as of the Seven Years' War. The name refers to the two main enemies of the British: the royal French forces and the various American Indian forces allied with them. The conflict was over land in the Americas and the English’s fear of the spread of Catholicism in the New World. The war was the fourth such colonial war between the kingdoms of France and Great Britain and resulted in the British victory and conquest of Canada. The war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on February 10, 1763. For Spain’s help during the war and to repay them for its loss of Florida, France ceded its control of French Louisiana west of the Mississippi.

Spanish Abandon Missions in East Texas 1773

Spanish Abandon their missions in East Texas

By the 1773 several factors caused the mission system to fall out of favor with the Spanish leaders in Mexico. The weaker Indian groups who had been more ready mission recruits declined steadily in numbers due to the loss of many babies during childbirth. There had been too many problems with European-introduced epidemics and continued hostile pressure from other Native Americans. The French had also lost the Seven years war and given their land in Louisiana to the Spanish. This meant they were no longer a threat to the Texas border so the Spanish ordered the friars in the East Texas near Louisiana to return home.

American Revolution Begins 1776

The U.S. declares independence from the British, and the American Revolution begins

The American Revolution refers to the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies of America overthrew the British Empire and became the nation of the United States of America. The war began with the Declaration of Independence in 1776 which officially stated that the colonies would become self-governing independent states, and unite against the British to defend that self-governance. The war lasted from 1775 to 1783 and was fought in the United States. The victory for the U.S. was sealed with the capture of British soldiers in Yorktown in October 1781. The British finally recognized the United States as independent country in 1783.

French Revolution 1789

The French Revolution

The French Revolution began in 1789 and was a period of political and social upheaval in the history of France. The people of France were upset that the French monarchy (King and Queen) gave privileges to the aristocracy (rich royalty) and Catholic church. They wanted radical changes to be made based on Enlightenment principles of nationalism, citizenship, and inalienable rights. These changes were accompanied by violent turmoil which included the trial and execution of the king, vast bloodshed and repression during the Reign of Terror, and warfare involving every other major European power. The final result after much bloodshed was a new constitution that took effect on 27 September 1795.

Adam-Onis Treaty 1819

Letter from John Quincy to James Monroe

The Adam-Onis Treaty

The Adams-Onís Treaty, also known as the Florida Treaty, was signed on February 22, 1819, by John Quincy Adams for the United States and by Louis de Onís for Spain. The treaty declared that the United States had no claim to Texas. It also created the eastern and part of the northern boundary Texas. The eastern boundary became the Sabine River and the northern boundary was the Red River. In return for Texas the Spanish gave up Florida to the U.S. The treaty shows America’s developing power and Spain’s loss of control in the Americas.

Mexican War for Independence 1810

Grito de Dolores

Mexicans win Independence 1821

1st Emperor of Mexico Agustin de Iturbide

Mexico’s territory in 1821

Mexico wins its Independence from Spain

The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and Spanish colonial authorities, which started on September 16, 1810. The revolution began with a Catholic priest named Father Miguel Hidalgo. He made a speech known as Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores"), in which he demanded independence. News of the “cry” spread and led by Mestizos, Zambos and Amerindians the Mexican War of Independence began. It was known an idealistic peasants' rebellion against their colonial masters, but despite their lack of training the Mexicans finally won the war after 11 years of battles. It ended when Agustín de Iturbide’s liberating army entered Mexico City in 1821.