Early Exploration of California

By Bonnie Rodriguez

June 2007

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/explorer_map_shepherd.jpg

The ConquistadorsThe Conquistadors

►Early Spanish explorers were called Early Spanish explorers were called conquistadors. Conquistador means conquistadors. Conquistador means “conqueror.”“conqueror.”

►They came to the Americas in search They came to the Americas in search of riches and to change people’s of riches and to change people’s beliefs to Christianity.beliefs to Christianity.

►A famous conquistador was Hernando A famous conquistador was Hernando Cortes, who defeated the Aztecs.Cortes, who defeated the Aztecs.

Finding a Shortcut

• Explorers wanted to find a shortcut to Asia, to make trading easier.

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Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

• Cabrillo was looking for a shortcut to Asia.

• He found San Diego in 1542.

• His exploring helped the Spanish learn about the coast of Alta California.

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Francis Drake

• Francis Drake wanted to find a shortcut to Asia too.

• He sailed for England.• While sailing up the

Pacific Ocean, he attacked many Spanish settlements.

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Alta California

• The Spanish wanted to start a colony in Alta California before someone else came along.

• A colony is a settlement that is ruled by a faraway government.

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Missions

• Spanish leaders wanted to start their colony by building missions.

• A mission is a religious settlement.

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Spanish Missions

• Missions were run by missionaries, or a person who teaches religion to others.

• Missionaries tried to convert Indians to the Catholic religion, teach them Spanish and show them the Spanish ways of life.

San Diego

• Spanish explorers traveled to Alta California to establish settlements.

• The reached San Diego Bay in 1769.

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Junipero Serra

• A priest named Junipero Serra began the first of 21 missions in Alta California in San Diego.

• It was called San Diego de Alcala.

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Monterey

• The Spanish had heard that Monterey had a good bay and set out to find it.

• Gaspar de Portola found Monterey Bay in 1770.

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Is There a Better Way?

• The route to Alta California was hard. There were mountains and deserts to cross. Many of the routes lacked grass and water.

• Even though it was hard, people still came to California.

QuizQuiz

1.1. Why did early Spanish “conquistadors” Why did early Spanish “conquistadors” come to the Americas?come to the Americas?

2.2. What was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo What was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo looking for?looking for?

3.3. What did missionaries do?What did missionaries do?

4.4. Who was Junipero Serra?Who was Junipero Serra?

5.5. Why was exploring California difficult? Why was exploring California difficult?