Why were many Indigenous Californians forced to live and work at Spanish missions?

Indigenous Californians were forced into the Spanish mission system primarily to fulfill two goals mandated by the Spanish crown: the spread of Roman Catholicism and the creation of a docile, taxpaying citizenry for New Spain.1

The missions functioned as centers of colonial control where Indigenous people were compelled to provide labor for the development of the region. Under the direction of Franciscans, they were put to work tending to mission farms, livestock, and various facilities. This forced labor enabled the padres to irrigate vast ranches and produce goods—such as hides, tallow, and grain—that were traded for manufactured items.21

The system was inherently coercive; individuals were discouraged or prohibited from leaving their home missions, and many became dependent on the missions for basic subsistence and shelter. This exploitation was part of a broader pattern of colonial labor systems, such as the repartimiento, which prioritized the economic interests of the Spanish over the autonomy and well-being of Indigenous populations.134