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The Spanish Missions is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on why the Spanish built missions and what they caused, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.14.3-5. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 15 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

The Spanish Missions

D2.His.14.3-5

NameDate

Read each text, then answer the questions.

1.Read the text, then answer the questions.

Missions Along the San Antonio River

An information text written for this worksheet. Spain claimed the land that is now Texas and sent priests and soldiers north from Mexico. In 1718 the Spanish founded the mission of San Antonio de Valero, later called the Alamo, beside the San Antonio River. By 1731 five missions stood along that river. Spain wanted the missions to turn Native people into Catholic subjects of the king, and to keep France out of Texas. Coahuiltecan people came to the missions, some for food and for protection from raids, some under pressure. Inside the missions they were made to farm, herd cattle and build, and many died of diseases the Spanish brought.

  1. 1. Why did some Coahuiltecan people come to the missions?
  2. 2. What work were people made to do inside the missions?
  3. 3. What would you need to look at to find out how many people died at the missions?
2.Read the text, then answer the questions.

After Mexico Became Independent

An information text written for this worksheet. Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, and the missions came under Mexico. In 1833 Mexico passed a law to close the California missions, and over the next few years their lands were taken from the priests. Most of the land was granted to Mexican settlers as huge cattle ranches called ranchos. The law said mission land should go to the Native people who had worked it, but very little did. Many Native people had to work on the ranchos for food and shelter instead of wages. Ranchos sold cattle hides and tallow, a fat used for candles and soap, to ships from the United States and Britain.

  1. 1. Why did the missions come under Mexico?
  2. 2. When did Mexico win its independence from Spain?
  3. 3. What did the ranchos sell to ships?

LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 15 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — The Spanish Missions

Set 15. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. For food and for protection from raids. 2. They were made to farm, herd cattle and build. 3. Mission records of deaths, because the text gives no numbers of people who died.
  2. 2.1. Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821. 2. In 1821. 3. Cattle hides and tallow.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.14.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.