Spanish Mission system

The Spanish Mission system was a colonial effort to expand Spanish influence in the Americas by establishing missions—religious and administrative centers—mainly in present-day California. These missions aimed to convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity, teach them European farming, and integrate them into colonial society. They often involved building churches, schools, and farmland, and relied on Indigenous labor. While they helped spread European culture and religion, the missions also disrupted Indigenous communities, leading to cultural loss and resistance. The system played a key role in Spain’s efforts to control and settle new territories during the colonial period.