How Did The Spanish Establish Colonies On The Borderlands

The Challenges to Spanish Colonization in the Borderlands How did the Spanish establish colonies on the borderlands? While France and England were building colonies in North America, Spain’s colonies in the Americas were already hundreds of years old. The Spanish established colonies on the borderlands by building missions, presidios, and pueblos. Early in the 1500s, Spanish explorers reached Florida, but at first they did not build permanent settlements. Fearing that France might take over the area, Spain built a fort called St. Augustine in northern Florida. St. Augustine was the first permanent European settlement in the present-day United States. Spanish control was threatened as English colonies spread southward. To weaken the English colonies, in 1693 the Spanish offered refuge and free land to enslaved Africans who escaped to Florida. During the 1700s, hundreds of African slaves fled to Florida. By 1763, there were only three major Spanish settlements in the Florida colony. All the settlements were centered around forts, and all were in
The only mission that took root in Texas was one that eventually became the city of San Antonio. Spain began colonizing California in 1769, and its missions there were especially important, Missionary Junípero Serra established several missions, including one that eventually became the city of San Diego. Altogether, the Spanish founded almost 20 missions in California between 1769 and 1800. Life in the Spanish Missions, thousands of Native Americans worked at missions, farming, building churches, and learning crafts. Treatment of Native Americans: Although they were not overworked, Native Americans did not have control over their lives in the missions, if they violated mission rules, they often were imprisoned or