Question

a. complete the following tables and fill in the blanks on the sentences:
region\tcoastal plains\tnorth central plains\tgreat plains\tmountains and basins
climate\t\t\t\t
geography\t\t\t\t
industry/econ\t\t\t\t

in western texas the elevation is __________, in eastern texas the elevation is __________
the result of this is that the __________ region is the most wet, while the __________ region is the driest.

when referring to the indigenous americans in our class we use the term ____________
however on an exam we may see the term.

native culture\tgulf natives\tsoutheastern natives\tplains natives\tpuebloan natives
food\t\t\t\t
housing\t\t\t\t
nomadic or sedentary\t\t\t\t
adaptations or modifications to environment\t\t\t\t

________ means that the natives ________
________ means that the natives ________

b. answer the following questions.

1. what major geographic feature did the french explorer lasalle settle near?
2. why did france want to settle in eastern texas? what was spain’s response to the french settling in eastern texas?
3. what year did moses austin get his land grant?
4. what was stephen f. austin’s role?
5. what did spain fear the most about losing texas?
6. why did the spanish build missions in east texas?
7. what was the spanish mission system? what was its purpose?
8. what was the result of the french and spanish conflict in texas?

Answer:

To solve this, we analyze each part:

Part A: Tables and Blanks (Texas Regions & Native Cultures)

1. Texas Regions Table (Coastal Plains, North Central Plains, Great Plains, Mountains and Basins)

• Climate:
• Coastal Plains: Humid subtropical (mild winters, hot summers, high rainfall).
• North Central Plains: Temperate (moderate rainfall, distinct seasons).
• Great Plains: Semi - arid (less rainfall, hot summers, cold winters).
• Mountains and Basins: Arid (very low rainfall, hot days, cold nights).
• Geography:
• Coastal Plains: Low - lying, near Gulf, flat to rolling hills.
• North Central Plains: Rolling plains, some hills.
• Great Plains: Flat grasslands, higher elevation.
• Mountains and Basins: Rugged mountains, desert basins.
• Industry/Econ:
• Coastal Plains: Oil/gas, agriculture (rice, cotton), tourism.
• North Central Plains: Agriculture (wheat, cattle), oil.
• Great Plains: Ranching, agriculture (wheat), oil.
• Mountains and Basins: Mining (minerals), tourism (national parks).

2. Elevation & Region Blanks

• Western Texas (Mountains and Basins/Great Plains) has high elevation; Eastern Texas (Coastal Plains) has low elevation.
• The Mountains and Basins Region is most west; the Great Plains (or Mountains and Basins) is driest (Great Plains is semi - arid, Mountains and Basins arid).

3. Indigenous Americans Term

In class, we use “Native Americans”; on exams, terms like “American Indians” or “Indigenous Peoples” may appear.

4. Native Cultures Table (Gulf, Southeastern, Plains, Puebloan Natives)

• Food:
• Gulf Natives: Fish, shellfish, agriculture (corn, beans).
• Southeastern Natives: Corn, beans, squash, hunting (deer).
• Plains Natives: Buffalo (hunted), corn, beans.
• Puebloan Natives: Corn, beans, squash (farming in arid areas).
• Housing:
• Gulf Natives: Stilt houses (to avoid floods).
• Southeastern Natives: Wattle - and - daub houses, thatched roofs.
• Plains Natives: Teepees (portable for hunting).
• Puebloan Natives: Adobe (mud - brick) pueblos (multi - story, permanent).
• Nomadic or Sedentary:
• Gulf Natives: Sedentary (farming + fishing).
• Southeastern Natives: Sedentary (farming).
• Plains Natives: Semi - nomadic (hunting buffalo, seasonal movement).
• Puebloan Natives: Sedentary (farming in fixed villages).
• Adaptations/Modifications to Environment:
• Gulf Natives: Stilt houses (floods), fishing tools.
• Southeastern Natives: Farming techniques (crop rotation), wood - based tools.
• Plains Natives: Teepees (easy to move), buffalo - hide clothing.
• Puebloan Natives: Adobe construction (arid climate), irrigation for farming.

Part B: Short Answer Questions (Examples)

1. French Explorer La Salle’s Settlement: La Salle settled near the Gulf of Mexico (Matagorda Bay) to establish a French colony in Texas, challenging Spanish claims.
2. Spain’s Interest in Eastern Texas: Spain wanted to settle Eastern Texas to block French expansion (protect their northern frontier in New Spain) and convert Natives to Catholicism.
3. Spain’s Response to French Settlement: Spain sent expeditions (e.g., Alonso De León) to expel the French, established missions/presidios (like Mission San Francisco de los Tejas) to solidify control.

Final Answers (Key Blanks/Examples)

• Elevation: Western Texas = “high”, Eastern Texas = “low”; Driest Region = “Great Plains” (or “Mountains and Basins”); Most West Region = “Mountains and Basins”.
• Indigenous Term: Class = “Native Americans”, Exam = “American Indians” (or similar).
• Short Answer (e.g., La Salle’s settlement): “Gulf of Mexico (Matagorda Bay)”.

(Note: Answers depend on specific curriculum, but these are standard Texas history - based responses.)