Midterm Essay: The California Missions
In 1769, a system of twenty-one missions were constructed by the Spanish government, and maintained by Franciscan Priests. These missions stretched along the coast of California. This essay will discuss the history of these missions, as well as the purpose they served, their success at the end of the mission era and how they impacted the development of early California. Additionally, I will be describing one of the missions, Mission San José, in greater detail.
In the late 1500s, after several expeditions, California was acquired by Spain. However, when the area was threatened by Russian fur trappers in the 1760s, the land still hadn’t been colonized. The Spanish government needed to act quickly in
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These missions stretched, according to an article written by David McLaughlin, for the California Mission Resource Center, “a distance of about 650 miles, from San Diego to Sonoma... on average, they were about 30 miles apart.” There was a specific reason for this. To connect the missions and make them accessible, all the missions followed what the California Mission Resource Center refers to as an “important rule/general rule” and that was that each of the missions were situated no more than a day’s journey …show more content…
I believe that the largest change that the Missions brought about to California, lays in the population increase alone. When considering the population rate before the Missions were built, and after, it’s clear that the missions did have a considerable impact on California’s development. According to the California Mission Resource Center, “By the 1830s, the mission controlled lands covered about 1/3 of the future state, and the total population had grown to about 30,000 – in the missions, presidos, and towns that were formed.” The 1830s was the end of the Mission
The spanish missions in California included a total of 21 missions that were established by the Spanish Order to bring christianity and civility to the Native Americans that lived in California. The California missions were built along a path called the El Camino Real. California did not become a state until 1852 . California was actually part of the Spanish Order and was called Alta California,in 1821 Mexico got their independence from the spanish order and made alt california part of mexico. On september 9th, 1850 became the 31st state in the united states. Mission nuestra senora de soledad, which has a the of mission soledad, was founded october 9th, 1791 by the franciscan order. It was founded to help convert native americans to catholicism. Mission soledad is the 13th mission out
Mission San Diego de Alcalá’s symbol for their livestock is the letter S&D mixed together. At the mission Father Serra taught catholic faith to the Indians nearby. The Spanish planted there camp right on the spot that the Indians harvested their food. There was a supply ship that delivered the supplies for the mission, the ship was very late. A man named Portla said to abandon the mission because the supply ship was not coming. Father Serra reasoned and said to wait a few days. Portla said if the ship did not come by March 19th to abandon the mission. They had look outs everyday till March 19th. The lookout spotted the supply ship on the very, March 19th. When the ship came,they no longer had to abandon the mission. San Diego de Alcalá mission is a very important part of the people's hearts that
In the first section, Monroy describes the Indian and the Iberian cultures and illustrates the role each played during missionization, as the Indians adapted ?to the demands of Iberian imperialism.?(5) He stresses the differen...
Through visiting La Plaza De Culturas Y Artes, I have learned a lot more interesting, yet, surprising new information about the Chicano history in California. For example, in the 1910’s and on the high immigration of Mexicans and other Chicanos, into coal mines and farms by major corporations, made California one of the richest states in the US. I also learned that most of California 's economy was heavily reliant on immigrants. Immigrants were the preferred worker for major corporations because they didn 't have American rights and were given the harder jobs for less pay.
"History of Pilsen and Little Village." San Jose Obrero Mission. Web. 24 Nov. 2011. .
Mexico had departed from Spain in 1821. California wanted to manage their own affairs however, they lacked self government. Pio Pico was the civil governor and Jose Castro was the military comandante. The two men held great hostility toward each other. They divided California’s land and raised armies for themselves. These divisions of armies led to future problems, due to the lack of unity between the two.
Milanich, Jerald T. and Susan Milbrath., ed. First Encounters: Spanish Exploration in the Caribbean and the United States1492-1570. Gainesville: U of Florida P, 1989.
These letters reveal how the rebellions were able to weaken the Spanish empire and they display how they aided the destabilization of the Spanish government and the faith the people had in it. They also offer the indigenous view of the functions of colonial Andean society. The native Andean society created a structure in these reducción towns that had an immense role in constructing the opposition to colonial rule. The Andean communities were able to maintain their own traditions and community organization while they adopted the structures thrust upon them by the colonial
...iches? Evidence from the California Gold Rush." The Journal of Economic History 68.04 (2008): 997-1027. Print.
San Francisco de los Tejas is another one of the first missions. It was the first mission built in East Texas. It was called Tejas because they had met Hasinai people along the Colorado River. The word Tejas means "friend". The Tejas mission was built after the Spanish found out about La Salle's fort. Tejas was built out of logs, unlike many of the missions. This was probably so because it was built in the Piney Woods or Post Oak Belt subregion. Trees in these subregions are plentiful. Tejas had been intended for the Caddo tribe. The Caddo were the most advanced tribe and didn't need the food, protection, or shelter the priests offered. Without the Caddo's support the mission was failing greatly. The Spanish government decided to stop funding money for the mission. Before the priests went back to Mexico, they buried the bell and hoped to return one day.
During the late 1840's California did not show much promise or security. It had an insecure political future, its economic capabilities were severely limited and it had a population, other than Indians, of less than three thousand people. People at this time had no idea of what was to come of the sleepy state in the coming years. California would help boost the nation's economy and entice immigrants to journey to this mystical and promising land in hopes of striking it rich.
After 150 days at sea they finally arrived in the bay of Santa Barbara. This bay was very large, formed by the main land on one side, and three islands opposite it. Here they found out that the thermometer never fell before zero and that there were little changes in weather during the different seasons. They heard of the mission and town of Santa Barbara that lies near to the beach and is a collection of one story buildings built of brown clay. In the center of town is a large building, the presidio.
Gray, Tom, and Robert Scardamalia. "Civic Report 71 The Great California Exodus: A Closer Look."
By the 1530’s, the Spanish had conquered the Mexican mainland. The land is very deserted and dry. The Spaniards mission back in the 16th century was to search for a fabled island of gold. Unfortunately, they failed to find the island of gold, but in 1535, the conquistador Herman Cortes discovered black pearls. The black pearls were found in the southern end of Baja California. Back in 1539, Francisco de Ulla attempted to colonize the country, but was unsuccessful in doing so. Herman Cortes returned back to Spain in 1541 and he also failed in exploring or colonizing Baja California. The state is not economically prosperous, but tourism has been on the rise especially around Los Cabos. Mexico’s independence began in 1810, but Baja California was not affected as much due to their small population. Many attempts were made in seizing or conquering the Peninsula, but many failed at the missions. The Spaniards created many missions on Baja California. The end of the Spanish rule in Mexico ended the mission’s administrative authority and Mexico gained Baja California in 1821 as a federal territory. Then by 1832, the governor converted all the missions into parish churches. Baja California Sur was a more isolated part of Mexico, so there were not many efforts in trying to colonize. In 1697, the Misión de Nuestra Senora de Loreto was the first mission in Baja California Sur. During the period of 1773, the Franciscans took
The Spanish discovery of the Americas brought new prosperity to the city. Seville became the centre of the exploration and exploitation of America through the House of Trade, which was established there in 1503 to regulate commerce between Spain and the New World. For two centuries Seville was to hold a dominan...