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| Get your Spanish paper. Read through the paper and be sure you know for what you are reading. Read this entire web page and then complete the paper. You may refer back to the web page as needed to complete the paper. Use full sentences, good spelling, proper capitalization and punctuation on your paper. |
| The Spanish had explored California during the 1500's. They searched for a trade route to the Philippines as well as for safe harbors. The trade routes were to be a quicker way to get to the Philippines; they never found one because one didn't exist. The finding of safe harbors was intended to bring about settlements in California. Safe harbors were needed to sail into and build around. After exploring California, the Spanish abandoned it for more than 200 years. After Russia and England showed interest in settling California, the Spanish once again became interested. They had already established New Spain, which was where Mexico is today. From there, it would be "easy" to travel northward and settle California. The first settlement was in San Diego in 1769 with the building of San Diego de Alcala, the first of 21 Spanish-built missions in California. The missions were founded to bring Christianity to the native Californians. The native Californians did most of the work at the missions, and many tried to escape the Spanish rule. |
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| Many of the natives escaped northward into the Sacramento Valley. The Spanish ventured into the valley looking for places to build new missions. They did not find any, but they did find many native Californians. In approximately 1808, Gabriel Moraga likely reached the American River. He noted that the American River "carried more water than any others except the San Joaquin." |
Native Californians in the Spanish Missions |
| Tribes along the Sacramento River blocked further exploration of the area, and the Nisenan never had missions built upon their land. However, many Spanish soldiers tracked the natives who had escaped from the missions and into the valley. Once a native Californian entered a mission, she or he was not allowed to leave, thus, they had to escape if they desired to leave. The escaped native Californians looked for safety around the American River. They brought the fear of capture and enslavement to other native Californians. They also brought with them knowledge of the Spanish culture and Spanish ideas. The Spanish language traveled to the American River in this manner which gave a common language to all the different native Californian groups. The Spanish raids, which were conducted while looking for escaped native Californians, had an effect on the native populations. |
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Native Californians working a plow on the farm of San Diego de Alcala |
