Prompt 4: Spanish Franciscan Missions and The Native Americans
The complex legacy of the Spanish missions in America separates various viewpoints and
beliefs. These missions were orchestrated by the Spanish Catholic Kingdom in the 17th and early
18th centuries with the intention of colonizing the area and converting Native Americans to
Christianity and European lifestyle, in order to determine the effectiveness of the Spanish
Franciscan missions, it is necessary to define success in this perspective. If success is defined as
converting Native Americans to Christianity and imposing Spanish culture and religion on them,
then the missions were a success, but only to them. If success is defined as the preservation and
respect of Mississippian cultures, communities, and the environment, the missions were a failure.
(Reigelsperger Lecture, 1/26)
Many argue that in terms of converting Native Americans to Christianity, the missions
were effective. Copious of Native Americans are believed to have been baptized and partake in
the Catholic faith during the missionary era. Many Native Americans viewed the missions as a
source of stability and hope at a time of upheaval and change, and they also served as a source of
religious and spiritual direction. In order to help the Native Americans become more selfsufficient and prosperous, the priests at the missions instructed them in European agricultural
methods, animal husbandry, and other trades. Many Native Americans also were willing to
accept Franciscan Missionaries after the atrocities of the Jesuits Missions that came before
(Reigelsperger Lecture, 1/26). Moreover, the idea of being considered as a “vassal” appealed to
the locals, which was the concept of being protected by the King/Queen in case of an attack.
(Reigelsperger Lecture, 1/24).
Other opinions counter that because the Spanish Franciscan missions significantly
harmed indigenous societies, they were a failure. Native Americans were frequently forcibly
removed from their original territories as a result of the missions, and a foreign culture and
religion were imposed upon them. As a result of the missions, many locals were forced to harsh
labor methods and suffered from sickness, hunger, and other health issues. Native American
cultures and traditions were also affected as Native Americans were compelled to adopt Spanish
rituals and language. (Reigelsperger Lecture, 1/24)
Furthermore, the Spanish Franciscan missions had a significant environmental impact.
Extensive land clearing and cow and sheep grazing for mission agriculture caused substantial
ecological harm, including the extinction of various plant and animal species, and the cattle
running wild. This impact is still felt today, and the missions' legacy is obvious in the devastated
ecosystems of the modern United States' Southeast. (Reigelsperger, Lecture, 1/26)
Finally, the impact of the Spanish Franciscan missions to Native Americans is
complicated and cannot be simply characterized as successful or unsuccessful. Some of the
missions' objectives were met, such as the conversion of Native Americans to Christianity,
introduction to Spanish culture and Language, and the provision of spiritual counseling and
instruction. However, they also harmed Native American villages and the environment, as well
as imposing a foreign culture and religion on them which the locals didn’t consent to. In this
context, the concept of success is critical to establishing the overall success of the Spanish
missions. Finally, the Spanish missions must be seen as a complex and contentious period in
American history, with both beneficial and negative consequences for Native American people
and the environment.
Works Cited
-Reigelsperger, Diana. Lecture, History of Florida, January 24, 2022, Seminole State College.
-Reigelsperger, Diana. Lecture, History of Florida, January 26, 2022, Seminole State College.