California's Mission Era

California's Mission Era (1769-1833) was a period when Spanish missionaries established religious and farming communities called missions along the California coast. Their goal was to convert Native Americans to Christianity and integrate them into colonial society. These missions became centers of agriculture, art, and culture, significantly shaping California’s development. However, the mission system also brought hardship and change for Native peoples, often leading to loss of land, culture, and autonomy. The era ended when Mexico gained independence from Spain, shifting control away from the mission system toward secular governance.