Mission Indians

Mission Indians, North American Indians of what is now the southern and central California coast, among whom Spanish Franciscans and soldiers established 21 missions between 1769 and 1823. The major groups were, from south to north, the Diegueño, Luiseño and Juaneño, Gabrielino, Chumash, and Costanoan. The Franciscans were given two goals by the Spanish crown: to spread Roman Catholicism and to create a docile taxpaying citizenry for New Spain. However, beyond some instruction in the...