Missions Of California -an Amalgamation Of Religion And Tourism

By Author: Massimo Felix
Total Articles: 44
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One of the major attractions of the State of California is the mission buildings. They are 21 in number and are scattered around the coastal line of the city. They were built by the Spanish missionary with aim of colonization and conversion.
Backgrounds
The MoCs were founded by the Franciscan catholic priests of Spain all over the coastal line and inlands of America. They founded these missions in order to convert the natives into Christianity and to colonize the areas under the Kingdom of Spain. Their main objectives were conversion of religion, civilization of the natives and turning of the native lands into Spanish colonies.
They educated the locals, taught them livelihood means like rearing of cattle and masonry work. They taught only one group at a time, making them settled in the nearby lands of the missionary building. Once their particular mission was over, they turned into newer areas in search of newer indigenous settlements.
Their motive was to make the people civilized, educated and followers of Christianity and along the process they built around 21 religious and military outposts.
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... Rise and fall
During the 1700 and 1800’s the MoCs really prospered because of its policies. In the process of preaching, the natives were made to settle on the nearby lands. Their livestock and agricultural lands were all in the Church’s name and hence all the money or profits incurred from them went into the missionary funds. The economic condition of the missions saw a good high.
With the high of wealth the missions came in focus of the people of the state. They were jealous of the Church’s wealth and wanted the wealth for themselves. They pressurized the government to bring the Act of Secularism, according to which the workings of the missionaries were banned. They were sent back to Spain and the Church lands were distributed among the locals. The wealth of the Churches was stolen or destroyed by the uncontrolled mob.
State of California
With the passing of the Secularism Act, the Church lands were confiscated by the Government and many previous settlers of the mission system were left without lands of their own. Their livestock, wealth and property too were taken over and the land was transferred under the name of California to the United States of America. Many treaties were signed between the two governments and finally California was recognized as a state.
Tourist attraction
Missions of California are the oldest architecture of the State. Their ruins and the Church buildings are a major tourist attraction today. And most of the people all over the world come only to visit them. The Government has taken the maintenance of these buildings into a special consideration and have passed the monument preservation act. Under which a large amount of money is given in order to restore, reduplicate and for preserving them.
The churches were built in a pattern of chain with 19 being on the coastal lines and two in lands. People can see them by taking the connected pathways and the travel route is called the “Californian trail”.

Learn all interesting facts about California Missions – visit Oceanside Mission Museum at 4050 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92057 or follow this link http://www.sanluisrey.org/museum/ and schedule a museum tour.