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
Mission San Juan Capistrano is in the center of the small town named for it. Shops and restaurants also named for it are found on the streets in front of the entrance to the mission. A high adobe wall surrounds the mission grounds. There are many restored buildings in the inner patio, and the great stone church. Across the fountain there is the bell wall that sits beside the ruined church. Near the bell is a statue of Father Junipero Serra. The ruins of the original stone church are in front of the mission. Only the sanctuary and parts of the church remain, but that’s enough to have an idea of how big it was. The church walls are made of large stones and birds have build nests between them. Mission San Juan Capistrano was one of many Spanish
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.
C. W. Hackett, ed., Historical Documents relating to New Mexico, Nueva Vizcaya, and Approaches Thereto, to 1773, vol. III (Washington: Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1937), 327-35.
"History of Pilsen and Little Village." San Jose Obrero Mission. Web. 24 Nov. 2011. .
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
Neophytes, newly converted native americans to catholicism, lived in housing located to the south of the mission. The cemetery was to the east of the mission. The salinas river was not used for irrigation, but used for livestock needs. The arroyo seco, meaning dry stream in spanish, was a seasonal water source. The neophytes dug a 15 mile aqueduct to bring water to 20,000 acres land surrounding the mission. Mission soledad’s main business was agriculture. They had 6,000 cattle, 9,000 sheep and 32 horses. They used the cattle’s fat to make soap and candles. The mission used sheep's wool to weave blankets. The mission had a 20 acre vineyard for growing grapes to make wine and brandy. All of the products produced were traded and sold to settlers immigrants and visitors. Mission soledad did not produce as much as other missions because of their size and location. Mission soledad was built in a hot, windy, treeless valley. It was built there because it was a stop on the 100-mile between mission san carlos borromeo de carmelo and mission san antonio de
The year was 1699, and two Spanish missionaries accompanied by a contingent of Spanish soldados were sent to northern Coahuila. Their instructions were to establish missions for the primitive tribes, hunters and nut gatherers that lived along the Rio Grande, the great river of the north. Gold, glory and God, essentially in that order, had motivated the founding of the missions. The Alamo itself was founded in 1718; however, due to disease and a reluctance of the locals to embrace Christianity the mission was abandoned in 1793. It wasn’t ...
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.
...iches? Evidence from the California Gold Rush." The Journal of Economic History 68.04 (2008): 997-1027. Print.
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.
California started its statehood unlike any other state before or after it succession. California entered the nation as a free state in 1950, during the time of the Gold Rush. From the Gold Rush came the term “California Dream” which is the “psychological motivation to gain fast wealth or fame in a new land” (Manhattan-Institute.org). From the time of the Gold Rush up until recent years, California has been associated with obtaining fast wealth and fame. This encouraged people from all over the world to come to California in hopes of striking it rich, just as people continued to do up until the 90's. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 immensely accelerated certain changes that had been in the making for decades. For instance, California was already filled with different races and cultures, but when the Gold Rush struck, California became an international frontier where people from every continent were joining together. “California also set an important precedent for civil societies with diverse populations” (page 121). By 1850, California was flooded with over 300,000 people seeking gold. The fact that California has always attracted so many different people has created a land filled with many languages, cultures, and social customs. “The arrival and departure of thousan...
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...