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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.

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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, Presidios and Pueblos

An information text written for this worksheet. Spain settled its northern lands with three kinds of places. A mission was run by priests, who taught the Catholic faith and put Native people to work. A presidio was a fort with soldiers. It was built near missions to protect them and to defend Spain's claim to the land. A pueblo was a town of settlers who farmed and traded, such as Los Angeles, founded in 1781. Santa Fe, in New Mexico, was founded about 1610 and became the capital of Spain's colony there. In 1680 the Pueblo peoples of New Mexico rose up together, led by a man named Popé, and drove the Spanish out for twelve years.

  1. 1. What does the text not tell you about life in a pueblo town like Los Angeles?
  2. 2. What does the text not tell you about why the Pueblo peoples rose up in 1680?
  3. 3. What was a pueblo?
2.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. How many missions stood along the San Antonio River by 1731?
  2. 2. What does the text not tell you about the Coahuiltecan people?
  3. 3. Why did Spain build missions in Texas?

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

Answer key — The Spanish Missions

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. It does not tell you how many settlers lived there or what their days were like. 2. It does not give the reasons the Pueblo peoples had for rising up. 3. A town of settlers who farmed and traded.
  2. 2.1. Five missions. 2. It does not tell you what the Coahuiltecan people themselves said about the missions. 3. To turn Native people into Catholic subjects of the king and to keep France out of Texas.

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