Spanish Missions and Borderlands in U.S. History

The video explores the Spanish colonization efforts in North America, focusing on the borderlands and the establishment of missions to solidify Spanish claims. It discusses the explorers Hernando de Soto and Vasquez de Coronado, who claimed vast territories for Spain despite not finding the mythical cities of gold. The Spanish used missions to convert Native Americans to Catholicism, aiming to secure their claims, but faced resistance due to cultural conflicts. The video also covers the Spanish rush to establish missions in California in response to Russian expansion. Finally, it previews the next topic on New France and the fur trade.

What was the primary focus of the previous session mentioned in the introduction?

• The French Revolution

• Spain's social structure in ruling colonies

• The Spanish Armada

• The American Civil War

What were Spanish borderlands?

• Lands controlled by the French

• Lands settled by Spain

• Lands owned by Native Americans

• Lands claimed but not settled by Spain

Who was Hernando de Soto?

• A Native American leader

• An English colonist

• A Spanish explorer who searched for the seven cities of gold

• A French explorer

Why did Spain have little interest in the borderlands?

• The climate was unfavorable

• There was no wealth like the seven cities of gold

• They were too far from Spain

• They were already settled by other Europeans

What was the Spanish strategy to maintain claims in the borderlands?

• Building forts

• Signing treaties with other European powers

• Setting up missions to convert Native Americans

• Establishing trade routes

How did Native Americans generally react to the Spanish missions?

• They welcomed them

• They were indifferent

• They resisted due to cultural and religious differences

• They immediately converted to Christianity

What prompted Spain to expand into California?

• The threat of Russian colonization

• The need for new trade routes

• The search for new agricultural lands

• The discovery of gold

Which modern city began as a Spanish mission?

• Los Angeles

• San Francisco

• New York

• Chicago

What was the main reason for the spread of Russian colonies that concerned Spain?

• The silk trade

• The fur trade

• The spice trade

• The gold rush

What will be the focus of the next session?

• New France and the fur trade

• The Industrial Revolution

• The Spanish Armada

• The American Revolution