Native American Missions

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Dr. Steve Adams History Of California 344 TTH 9:30am 09/16/14 Native Americans and Early Missions Native Americans prior to contact lived as patrilocal in the sense that their tribes were set up by men seeking women and having them join their families. Prior to contact with Europeans, Native Americans had a very fair division of labor between males and females dealing with the time spent and difficulties in the tasks. Indians were considered “Stone Aged” or “Prehistoric” due to the lack of metal. The Indians used arrows to hunt Deer. The women would pick berries and process acorns all while they had a rich supply of fish. There were sweat lodges for men only were they would find spiritual healing. The Indians bathed daily and wore little to no clothes. Tattoos, body paintings and piercing were common. Tribes communicated with their own unique languages, there were 5 main languages although later they would all learn Spanish from the…show more content…
Secularization among the Missions was happening while Indian population was decreasing due to the “white mans disease”. Indians would run away and be hunted down by soldiers. Men and women were split up into separate dorms and forced to work 6 days of the week. The Indians freedom was delayed and so became a revolution. 10 years after the missions were disbanded the converted Native Americans formed new town and were considered to be loyal farmers and ranchers. During a time a small revolution would appear, the Native Americans assassinated 3 Priest of Spanish Missions. California also became more isolated with the Mexican Revolution. Secularization of the Missions failed resulting in California becoming largely unstable and more expensive. The wealth of California was based on the work of the Indians. The Peons had no freedom and were ruled by the Missions. Using the power that they had would turn against the people that first lived in

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