The goals of California missions
1) What were the goals of California missions? How did Indigenous peoples resist during the time period of the missions? Be sure to provide specific examples.
2) How does the term “Manifest Destiny” relate to the chapter “Sea to Shining Sea” from our textbook? Be sure to provide specific examples from the textbook.
3) What was Deborah Miranda’s argument in the “Lying to Children About the California Missions and the Indians” article? What stood out to you, and why?
4) How does your K-12 education relate to the experiences mentioned in Lim’s article on “Educating Elementary School Children About California Missions and Genocide”? Why might the ways missions are taught be problematic? How might this problem be resolved, specifically what does Lim advocate for in the article?
5) What stood out to you in the article “What the ‘California Dream’ Means to Indigenous Peoples”? What does the “California Dream” mean to Indigenous peoples, and what solution does the author suggest?
6) Provide a quick analysis of Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier” based on the history covered in this week’s materials. This analysis is open to your own interpretation and creativity! Please include lyrics and examples from our materials to build meaningful connections.
Sample Solution
The goals of California missions
The California missions began in the late 18th century as an effort to convert Native Americans to Catholicism and expand European territory. Spain was responsible for the missions, which scholars believe were attempts to colonize the Pacific coast of North America. There were 21 missions in all, lasting from 1769 until about 1833. The main goal of the California missions was to convert Native Americans into devoted Christians and Spanish citizens. Spain used mission work to influence the native with cultural and religious instruction. Another motivation for the missions was to ensure that rival countries, such as Russia and Great Britain, didn’t try to occupy the California region first. The Native Indians often rebelled against the Franciscan missionaries with their feet: they ran away from captivity.
