What happened to Mission Indians after the Mexican government ended the missions in 1834?

When the Mexican government officially ended the authority of the missions in 1834, the Mission Indians were left in a precarious position. Although the law promised them the rights of citizenship and a share of one-half of all former mission property, the reality for many was far different.1

The aftermath of secularization included the following outcomes:

• Exploitation: Many Indigenous people were exploited and despoiled of their promised property by land speculators.1
• Assimilation: Some individuals successfully integrated into the Mexican system.1
• Displacement: Many tribes were left adrift, having become dependent on the missions for their basic subsistence and shelter during the period of Spanish control.1

While the mission period had been characterized by forced labor and the suppression of Indigenous California peoples, the transition in 1834 failed to secure the autonomy or resources promised to them, leading to widespread hardship. In later centuries, some tribes were able to leverage their landholdings for economic stability.12