California Mission System Overview

Emily, a guide with California State Parks, discusses the history of California missions. The Spanish began exploring in the 1500s, establishing missions in the Americas, reaching California in 1769 with Father Junipero Serra's first mission in San Diego. The mission system involved converting local California Indians to Christianity and integrating them into Spanish society. Missions operated for about 60 years, with the last one established in 1823. After Mexico took over, missions were secularized and transformed into towns, like Sonoma. Today, Mission San Francisco Solano is a museum in the California State Park system.

What was the primary goal of Spanish exploration in the Americas during the 1500s?

• To establish trade routes with Asia

• To discover new spices

• To spread democracy

• To find new territories for settlement

Who established the first mission in California, and where was it located?

• Hernan Cortes in Los Angeles

• Francisco Pizarro in Sacramento

• Father Junipero Serra in San Diego

• Christopher Columbus in San Francisco

What was the main purpose of the mission system in California?

• To explore the Pacific Ocean

• To build military forts

• To establish trade with other countries

• To convert local Indians to Christianity

How did the mission system affect the cultural practices of California Indians?

• It had no impact on their culture

• It discouraged their customs and languages

• It allowed them to freely practice their religion

• It encouraged them to maintain their traditions

What was the intended outcome for California Indians under the mission system?

• To become citizens of Spain

• To migrate to other countries

• To become independent nations

• To return to their original lands

What was the duration of the mission system in California?

• About 80 years

• About 60 years

• About 40 years

• About 20 years

What process did Mexico use to transform missions into towns?

• Colonization

• Secularization

• Industrialization

• Urbanization

Which mission was one of the first to become a town, and what is it known as today?

• Mission San Diego, now San Diego

• Mission San Francisco Solano, now Sonoma

• Mission Santa Barbara, now Santa Barbara

• Mission San Jose, now San Jose

What is the current status of the Mission San Francisco Solano?

• It is a private residence

• It has been demolished

• It is still an active church

• It is a historical museum