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French colonization of Texas
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The French colonization of Texas started when Robert Cavelier de La Salle established a colony in Texas. It faced difficulties such as Native American raids, epidemics, and harsh conditions. La Salle led unsuccessful expeditions to find the Mississippi River, and explored the Rio Grande and East Texas. The fort could not receive resources after their last ship was wrecked and most remaining members were killed during a Karankawa raid in 1688. The colony established France's claim to the region; after the Louisiana Purchase, the colony was the basis of the United States's unsuccessful claim to this region. The Spanish monarchy funded expeditions to eliminate the settlement; when discovered, the Spanish buried the cannons and burned its buildings. Years later, Spanish authorities built a presidio at the same location; the presidio was later abandoned, and the site's location was unknown. In 1995, researchers located La Belle in Matagorda Bay, and the fort was rediscovered and excavated in 1996. (Full article...)
- Most recent similar article(s): Perhaps Donner Party on June 3
- Main editors: Karanacs
- Promoted: March 15, 2008
- Reasons for nomination: Feb 20 is the 340th anniversary of La Salle's landing and the beginning of the colonization. This is a TFA re-run from 2009
- Support as nominator. Z1720 (talk) 01:57, 1 December 2024 (UTC)