Early ExplorersEarly Explorers

La Salle Awakens Spanish La Salle Awakens Spanish InterestInterest

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France Challenges Spanish France Challenges Spanish ClaimsClaims

France challenged Spain’s claim to Texas.France challenged Spain’s claim to Texas. The leader of the French quest for an The leader of the French quest for an empire was Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de empire was Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.La Salle.

He claimed the entire inland region He claimed the entire inland region surrounding the Mississippi and named the surrounding the Mississippi and named the land Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV.land Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV.

In August 1864, four ships carrying about In August 1864, four ships carrying about 280 colonists set sail for Louisiana.280 colonists set sail for Louisiana.

La Salle, not an easy person to get along La Salle, not an easy person to get along with, quarreled with the ship captains. with, quarreled with the ship captains.

France Challenges Spanish France Challenges Spanish ClaimsClaims Spanish pirates captured one vessel. Spanish pirates captured one vessel.

The other 3 vessels were separated in The other 3 vessels were separated in a storm. a storm.

The ship missed the mouth of the The ship missed the mouth of the Mississippi and sailed 400 miles west, Mississippi and sailed 400 miles west, along the Texas coast.along the Texas coast.

After searching a long while for the After searching a long while for the mouth of the Mississippi, La Salle mouth of the Mississippi, La Salle decided the expedition must go ashore. decided the expedition must go ashore.

He chose a spot on Matagorda Bay.He chose a spot on Matagorda Bay. During the landing, one of the ships During the landing, one of the ships wrecked, losing badly needed supplies.wrecked, losing badly needed supplies.

The French Flag Flies The French Flag Flies over Texasover Texas La Salle and the colonists built a La Salle and the colonists built a

stockade, or an enclosure of posts to stockade, or an enclosure of posts to form a defense.form a defense.

This outpost became known as Fort St. This outpost became known as Fort St. Louis and flew the French flag. Louis and flew the French flag.

La Salle ordered some of the colonists La Salle ordered some of the colonists to stay and defend the fort while he to stay and defend the fort while he explored the area. explored the area.

When he returned he discovered that When he returned he discovered that during his absence disaster had struck. during his absence disaster had struck. Overwork, poor food, and conflicts with Overwork, poor food, and conflicts with the Native Americans had claimed the the Native Americans had claimed the lives of many of the French colonists.lives of many of the French colonists.

The French Flag Flies The French Flag Flies over Texasover Texas

By the summer of 1686, fewer then 40 of By the summer of 1686, fewer then 40 of the original 280 settlers remained the original 280 settlers remained alive. alive.

On a second expedition, La Salle On a second expedition, La Salle traveled into east Texas, but the traveled into east Texas, but the members of the expedition refused to members of the expedition refused to continue and murdered La Salle on March continue and murdered La Salle on March 19, 1687.19, 1687.

The Kawakawas staged a surprise attack The Kawakawas staged a surprise attack on the outpost around Christmas of 1688.on the outpost around Christmas of 1688.

Five children were adopted by the Five children were adopted by the Karankawas, but most of the colony was Karankawas, but most of the colony was killed. killed.

The French Flag Flies over The French Flag Flies over TexasTexas 6 of the 17 colonists who had left Fort St. 6 of the 17 colonists who had left Fort St.

Louis with La Salle decided to try to find Louis with La Salle decided to try to find their way to the French settlement in their way to the French settlement in Quebec, Canada. They eventually made it.Quebec, Canada. They eventually made it.

Another small group remained behind in East Another small group remained behind in East Texas. Texas.

Rumors were heard that some members of La Rumors were heard that some members of La Salle’s ill-fated colony had been spared in Salle’s ill-fated colony had been spared in the massacre were still living among Native the massacre were still living among Native Americans.Americans.

La Salle’s fort led France to establishing La Salle’s fort led France to establishing trade with the Native Americans. trade with the Native Americans.

Although the French never did any real Although the French never did any real settling in Texas, they kept the claim to settling in Texas, they kept the claim to Texas alive in their imagination.Texas alive in their imagination.

The French Flag Flies over The French Flag Flies over TexasTexas

The most direct result of La Salle’s fort The most direct result of La Salle’s fort in Texas was that it shifted the focus of in Texas was that it shifted the focus of Spanish interest from western Texas to the Spanish interest from western Texas to the easteast..

For many years after, every Spanish move in For many years after, every Spanish move in Texas came as a reaction to French threatTexas came as a reaction to French threat

La Salle’s journey in Texas also provided La Salle’s journey in Texas also provided the United States with a reason to claim the United States with a reason to claim Texas as part of the 1803 Louisiana Texas as part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.Purchase.

Because of this claim, for many years the Because of this claim, for many years the U.S. and Spanish argued about the location U.S. and Spanish argued about the location of the border between American and Spanish of the border between American and Spanish territories. territories.