After 1769, the life of the California natives [Native Americans] who came in contact with
the Spanish was reshaped by the mission fathers, not the townspeople of the pueblos or the
soldiers of the presidios. The Franciscans came to California not merely to convert the tribes
to Christianity but to train them for life in a European colonial society. Conversion was
seldom an entirely voluntary process, and converts (neophytes) were not left to return to their
old ways but were required to live in the walled mission enclosure or on rancherias, separate
settlements sponsored by missions although located some distance from the mission proper.
There they were taught Spanish as well as the tenets of their new religion and trained in skills
that would fit them for their new lives: brickmaking and construction, raising cattle and
horses, blacksmithing, weaving, tanning hides, etc.
-Library of Congress
Use the passage to answer the question.
5. Inferring from this text, why might the Spanish have felt it important to train the natives of
California for a "European colonial society"?
According to the passage from the Library of Congress, the Spanish missionaries who came to California in the late 18th century aimed not only to convert the Native Americans to Christianity but also to train them for life in a European colonial society. This training involved learning Spanish, as well as various skills such as brickmaking, construction, cattle and horse raising, blacksmithing, weaving, and tanning hides.
Based on this information, we can infer that the Spanish felt it important to train the native population for a European colonial society because they wanted to integrate them into their own way of life and establish a European-style colony in California. By teaching the natives Spanish and skills that would be valuable in a European colonial society, the Spanish likely sought to create a workforce that could contribute to the economic and social development of the colony. This would have allowed the Spanish to maintain control and exert influence over the native population, ensuring their adaptation to the colonial society.