They were built to establish a Spanish presence and help new settlers travel northward (over land) from New Spain. They were also built to encourage Christianity with the Indians.
don't believe the answer they give you
To save the souls of whoever they found here.
Native Americans did most of the work of building the missions. Fr. Junipero Serra was sent to California by Spain for the purpose of building missions.
to make the californian indians(all of them) catholic
to make the californian indians(all of them) catholic
to make the californian indians(all of them) catholic
to make the californian indians(all of them) catholic
The country of Spain sponsored the building of missions to help new settlers establish a presence along the coast, before anyone else.
so the missions could have churches
yourmom
to converts "heathens" to the catholic religion
The Spanish government, in conjunction with the Roman Catholic Church, built the missions as a way to subdue the native inhabitants of California.