What are the California Missions?

Answer 1

The California Missions were a series of 21 settlements running up the California coastline from what is now San Diego all the way to San Francisco. These missions were established by the kingdom of Spain and were founded and maintained by missionary Catholic priests, monks and brothers while also serving as military garrisons for Spanish soldiers. The first mission was built in 1769 under the supervision of Father Serra in what is now San Diego. The most successful mission was founded in 1771 in the San Gabriel Valley in what is now a suburb of Los Angeles. The "San Gabriel Mission" eventually began supplying the other missions with such things as soap, wine and olive oil. Today, many of these missions have been restored and are open to the public for viewing and tours.

The purpose of the missions was twofold: conquest and conversion. The King of Spain wished to secure the newly discovered lands of what was to be California for his empire and to do that he needed to populate it while subduing any native peoples. As is often the case in such situations, the Crown and Church worked together; with the Church mandate of converting the heathen - how pure their intentions might have been will not here be discussed - Catholic missionaries would go in, find either a suitable location or a location near to a native populace, and begin constructing a mission.

A typical mission was basically a small monastery with some grounds enclosed about with a wall. As the mission became successful, the mission would organically expand into a small town. The town was designed to be self-sufficient and while serving as a base of operations for Spanish clergy and even hosting soldiers, it also served as a place of education for the natives, both in practical skills and trades but also in learning and indoctrination of Spanish culture as well as religious catechism in the hopes of converting them to Catholicism. To further secure the land about the missions, the King awarded land grants to faithful nobles and soldiers. These nobles and soldiers would take their families and servants over to California and establish a ranch on their land in the vicinity around the missions.

In 1834, Mexico claimed its independence from Spain and effectively terminated the California mission system.

Answer 2

1San Diego de Alcala

2San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

3San Antonio de Padua

4San Gabriel Arcangel

5San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

6San Fransisco de Asis

7San Juan Capistrano

8Santa Clara de Asis

9San Buenaventura

10Santa Barbara

11La Purisma Concepcion

12Santa Cruz

13Nuestra Senora de la Soledad

14San Jose

15San Juan Bautista

16San Miguel Arcangel

17San Fernando Rey de Espana

18San Luis Rey de Francia

19San Ines

20San Rafael Arcangel

21San Fransisco Solano

Answer 3

Some of the missions are San Juan Capestrono, San Luis Ray De Francia, San Gaberiel, San Rafeal, And Santa Cruz