The California missions transformed California. A short video discusses the missions, their purpose, how they eventually lost their power, and what happened to Native Americans when the missions closed. 

Concepts

california missions, california history, california, missions, spanish colonialism, the roman catholic church, native americans, discrimination

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Have learners create journal entries from the perspective of a Native American at a mission 
• Pair with a lesson on Spanish imperialism or during Hispanic Heritage Month

Classroom Considerations

• Requires a free PBS account

Pros

• Uses primary sources such as interviews to add interest and authenticity
• The video does a good job of explaining the difficulties Native Americans faced 

Cons

• None