Atlas of Hispanic-American History

Texas

The Spanish explorers Cabeza de Vaca,

Coronado, and Oñate all visited what is

now Texas, but Spain showed no major

interest in the region until the 1680s,

when the French began laying claim to it

as part of Louisiana. The Spanish sent

expeditions to drive out the French and to

found missions and presidios in eastern

Texas, but Native American resistance

forced the Spanish to abandon these in

1694. Then, in 1714, the French founded
      a settlement on the Rio Grande in south-
      western Texas near what is now Eagle
      Pass. This was getting perilously close to
      New Spain. The Spanish reclaimed Texas
      with a vengeance, in time founding more

58 ATLAS OF HISPANIC-AMERICAN HISTORY

In 1680, a Native American shaman named Popé led a rebellion that killed about 400

Spaniards and led to the temporary abandonment of Santa Fe. In 1692, Spanish forces

under the command of Diego de Vargas retook the city. Seen above are the pueblos in

which the rebellion was centered, as well as Vargas’s route to Santa Fe.

The Pueblo Revolt, 1680