California Missions

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California Missions Introductions Missions were started in the 1700s. King Charles III had ordered mission settlements to be built along the coast of Upper California and it was a Spanish missionary named Fray Junipero Serra’s task to carry out the king’s wishes. The missioners had a goal. They wanted Native Americans to change to their religion. These neophytes, as they newly converted were called, had to obey the missionary in charge. He told them what to do and how to live. First California Mission founded in 1769 at San Diego by Father Junipero Serra. Mission sites had to have access to water, good soil for crops, grazing land for livestock, and be close to native California villages. The Spaniards built 21 missions along the coast…show more content…
Serra held the first service in the Valley of the Oaks and named the mission in honor of Saint Antonio de Padua. The Salinan Indians were friendly and offered to help build the first mission structures. These shelters were very simple. An Indian who helped the friars was often rewarded with gifts and the trinkets. It was easier for the missionaries of San Antonio de Padua to recruit neophytes. The missionaries and neophytes started building Mission San Antonio in 1771, almost immediately after its founding. The original structures were built along the river, but a year and half later that part of the river ran dry. In 1773, the mission was moved to a new location. At this new spot, there was water all year. Each mission had to produce all its own food, so the location was very important. The mission Indians flooded the fields to thaw the wheat. Then, everyone prayed for nine days that the crop would be saved. That year, the crop was better than ever before. This event gave many neophytes faith in the Christian…show more content…
King Charles III had ordered mission settlements to be built along the coast of Upper California and it was a Spanish missionary named Fray Junipero Serra’s task to carry out the king’s wishes. When the Spaniards first arrived in Upper California, many American Tribes were already living there. There were over 100 different Indian groups, each with its own land and identity, and its own language or dialect. The American Indians who lived on lands surrounding Mission Santa Ines belonged to the Chumash tribe. The Chumash tribe once lived all along the Southern California coastline. The Chumash Indians called themselves the First People. They were a nonviolent people who loved music and made it a part of their everyday lives. They sang songs for celebrations. The Chumash were skilled craftsmen. They made fine baskets for storage, offerings and gifts. The Chumash Indians were known to weave beautiful blankets from feathers. The Chumash Indians built dome-shaped houses they call ‘aps. These were usually 12 to 20 feet long. Some were single families, while others housed three or four families, sometimes up to 50 people lives in one house. Sycamore poles or whale ribs were used to build the

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