Texas Indians

(1) What were the principal groups of Native American peoples in Texas at the time that the Spanish first appeared?

Prior to Europeans arrival there were four distinctive groups located in what today is called Texas. These groups are divided into regional areas as the Indians of the coastal areas (Karankawan & Coahuiltecan), Indians of the Plains (Comanches, Apaches, Kiowas and Tonkawas – central and northwest Texas), Indians in Northeast Texas (Caddo, Hasinai- belonged to the Caddo tribe), and the Jumano Indians of Trans-Pecos area.

What kinds of social structures did they have, and how equipped were they to deal with Europeans?

Indians of the coastal areas:

This group lived in small family units with no formal political organization and moved around in the coastal areas looking for sustenance supplied from the land. Social life revolved around the family units and each small band had a chief that presided over the group. The religious life of the coastal Indians were primitive and suggested a belief that all life is produced by a spiritual force and that the universe, as an embodiment of order and harmony, was governed by these supernatural entities. Basically whatever happen to them was because of the supernatural forces in heaven who were controlling the events they had no direct input or control over.

The Coastal Indians were well equipped to fight and protect their region as seem when they captured Panfilo de Narvez party near Galveston, Texas and attacked and destroyed the French garrison of Fort St. Louis near Vanderbilt, Texas. However, these bands of Indians were not as aggressive as those Plain Indians of Texas.

Indians of the Plains:

The Indians of the Plains organized in-groups of families with a Chief ruler of each unit, but did not have a formal political structure. These groups depended heavily on Buffalo for their livelihood. This group wandered across the plains following or looking for Buffalo, but was stationary for a period of time to grow small crops that supplemented their existence. Each unit was very independent from other groups and often preyed on the other cluster for things they did not have and wanted or need to live. As independent as the units were, so was the personal relationship with respect to religious matters. While the concept of a one God authority apparently existed, it was only brief. Each person was allowed to have a direct relationship with the many gods they chose to communicate with during their life. The Plains Indians did have a medical man, but his primary function was to heal the weak and sick.

How equipped were they to deal with Europeans?

The Plains Indians, especially the Apaches and Comanches, were very aggressive people. Not only were they great hunters of Buffalo, but also of intruders. The Plains Indians were the Spaniards greatest challenge along with the Pueblo’s from New Mexico.

Indians in Northeast Texas:

These Indians lived very different than the coastal areas and the plains Indians. This group was primarily the Caddo Indians. The Caddo’s were farmers and this provided a stable social structure. This group did not move or roam about for food, but produced it for themselves. They lived in structures that were permanent and were able to provide what they needed to exist through agricultural means and trade. The Caddo Indians religious activities allowed for acknowledgement of several gods but promoted a belief in one ultimate God over all things. The Caddo Indians did have a high priest that medicated spiritual issues among the bands from a global perspective, but left the secular concerns to the subordinate leaders over the units. The Hasinai belonged to the Caddo tribe and the Spanish called them the “Tejas” meaning friend. The State of Texas derived its name from this word.

How equipped were they to deal with Europeans?

The Caddo Indians were the most advanced band of Indians in Texas and they saw the Europeans as a potential political ally and a good trading partner. The Caddo Indians were strong enough to protect themselves from the surrounding hostile Indians while keeping order in the Caddo system.

Jumano Indians:

Jumano’s are people who live from the land. Some Jumanos were farmers, while others of the Jumano tribe roamed the land looking for Buffalo. The farming group did have a social unit where single-units constructed huts in a village style format and did have a single chief rule over the village. The nomadic Jumano Indians became distant travelers to trade for essentials they did not have with the Pueblo (in New Mexico) or Caddo Indians (East Texas). There was no mention of religious beliefs stated in the book for the Jumano Indians.

How equipped were they to deal with Europeans?

The Jumano Indians seem to be the least prepared to deal with the Europeans. The tribe was divided into two groups the farmers and the hunters. The hunters being travelers traded with the Caddo’s and Pueblo’s. This tribe asked for help in learning the Spanish religious ways, “Lady in Blue,” and desired protection for their Comanche aggressors.

(2) What forces shaped the character of the Spanish who came to Texas?

The forces that shaped the character of the Spanish can be seen in the influences of the troubled times the Spaniards experienced by their conquerors by the Visigoths and eventually of the Moors. The earlier influence of the Spanish people was a melting pot of Romans, Germans, and evolving Christen beliefs that penetrated the language, law, customs, and religious faith. However, when the Moors captured the Iberian Peninsula, they wanted change in this Spanish region and that change was to convert the Spaniards to Moslem beliefs. In an effort to oust the Moors and conquer the “motherland” in the middle ages, the Spanish people developed a cultural change that would lead to the strategy that established Spanish rule in North America. Castile’s efforts to expel the Moors lead to the new grander definition of valor and an attitude of “survival at any cost.” The evolution of the church in pro-active efforts to convert Moslems and Spanish cities receiving privileges from the King to hold on to gains made in removing the Moslems, were key developments in an evolving Spanish system of recapturing their land. When Isabella of Castile married Ferdinand of Argon a reclaiming of the Kingdom began. Isabella turned what was a municipal brotherhood into a standing army for the King to reunite Spain into a sovereign ruled nation. Thus changing all the rural independent control of the local nobility and clergy back to one sovereign nation. Spain had reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors through acquisition and finally subordination.

How did the experience of the reconquista in Spain affect the way in which

the newcomers to North America approached the process of colonizing Mexico and Texas?

Spain had reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors through acquisition and subordination. With the validation of this systematic method, Spain implemented this methodology in the New World to colonize Mexico and Texas.

(3) What were the motives of the conquistadores in the New World?

The motives of the conquistadores were to obtain wealth and position, spread the Christian faith, find a short cut to the Orient, and establish colonizes for the King of Spain.

How did they become the instruments of Spanish imperial policy after 1500?

While seeking wealth and position for themselves, they conquered regions for the King and inspired others to search for riches and glory.

(4) How did the Spanish transfer the institutions that had been used against the Moslems to the task of establishing Spanish power in Texas?

The King was the ultimate person responsible for coordinating settlements. Through orders and a well-developed hierarchy, the King established a bureaucracy that regulated positions down to the day to day functions. It was important that the Kings appointed leaders in the New World recognized the King’s right to set policy and the duty of the subordinate was to comply with the King’s commands.

How did the presidio, the mission, and the rancho function to advance the goals of Spanish policy?

Acquisition and subordination were the two tools of success of Spain to throughout the Moors. The presidio, mission, and rancho are the mirror images of the same system. The presidio or fort is placed in various regions to hold ground gained in the conquest and provide protection for the cities or towns in that region. Missions were important to convert the Indians to Christianity, more especially Catholicism , and establish new relationships outside the established areas. Rancho or ranches were established to provide a means to settle areas of land in the far extreme edges of territories not claimed or unsettled. The ranches provided necessary food the presidios, missions, and gave supported the military undertakings of all manner. Through implementing the system of establishing presidios, missions, and ranches, Spain had a greater change to hold these regions from aggressors.

(5) What were the reasons for the inability of Spain to have more of a presence in Texas before the middle of the eighteenth century?

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Definitions

A) reconquista: the term associated with the centuries of struggle to regain Spain from the Moors or Moslem control. The Spanish culture changed during this time and the Spanish learned how to triumphant over the Moors and regain Spain. This new methodology in acquisition and subordination provided a new and successful process to conquer additional territories and establish colonies. Spain implemented this process in the New World.

B) Presidio: the garrisons and forts established in various regions to protect the local cities, towns, missions, and other areas held by Spain.

This military compound that allow the training of soldiers, afforded the protect of the frontier missions and ranchers, a place for prisoners to complete sentence, and tool for orderly expansion in the New World

C) Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca: Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was a party to a landing exploration, that went wrong, in Florida by a Spanish explorer, Panfilo de Narvaez. Later, on an attempt to get to Mexico they were shipwrecked at what is today called Galveston, Texas. Coastal Indians took Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and other survivors as prisoners during the winter of 1528. Only Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and four others survived after years of captivity and they decided to escape. Masquerading as Medicine Men, they traveled southwestward to a place near today’s Roma, Texas and then through Northern Mexico, back across the Rio Grande at today’s Presido, Texas, and then close to El Paso and eventually turned back into Mexico to conclude at Culican in the western Province of Sinaloa. It was his tales of treasures that cause the King to send Friar Marcos de Niza in 1539 to the northern lands to confirm his story. Through mixed reports Niza’s exploration had reported great find o f wealth and had found the fable “Seven Cities.” Another party, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, was sent to confirm Niza’s reports. After several years of searching the northlands nothing was found and this discouraged further explorations for 50 years. ????

D) Caddo Indians: A well-established people in Northeast Texas with a good social structure that worked the land to produce agricultural products such as; pumpkins, beans, tobacco, and other crops. They traded other Indians and explorers for goods and products they did not have the ability to develop. These people became a very stable part of Northeast Texas and provided valuable trade to the region.

E) Louis Juchereau de Saint-Denis: A Canadian who had been trading successfully with the Indians in Louisiana traveled to Natchitchoes to establish markets with the Spaniards. St. Denis traveled south 30 miles beyond what is today called Eagle Pass to a point in Mexico. There he was arrested by the Spanish, sent to Mexico City for interrogation. Finding no reason for his travels into Texas and alarmed by the French intrusion, the Spanish agreed to rebuild the mission in East Texas as a buffer zone from foreign intervention. The Spanish decided to assigned St. Denis as second in command, because of his supposed love to bring Christianity to the Indians. The Spanish hoped to learn from St. Dennis how to speak the Indian language, acquire knowledge of the Texas terrain, and duplicate his ability to befriend the Indians.