D2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

D2 - Assignment Example During his voyage he and his three ships stopped at a place called Ballast Point. Although the Spanish ships would frequently sail down the coast of California as they came from Philippines with treasure, it took them a period of approximately 200 years before they settled there. The reason why Spain decided to settle in California was that they saw Russia as a potential threat to them. This is because the Russian traders were moving down the coast from Bering Sea and had reached Farallon Islands by 1765 which were off of San Francisco. Spain planned on colonizing Alta California as a means of keeping the Russians away from it. The plan was drawn up by Inspector-General Josà © de Gà ¡lvez, the project was led by Don Gaspà ¡r de Portolà ¡ whereas Blessed Junipero Serra was the one in charge of the missionaries. In the year 1769 many expeditions were set out where 219 people made it. Junipero Serra also on that year raised the first cross on a mission site (Starr 49). Junipero Serra was a man who made a lot of significance in the California history. He was born in the year 1713 and grew up as an educated person. At 36 years old, he joined a group of missionaries who were going out to Mexico and in December 1745 he arrived there with his companions. He volunteered for 8 years to go to the mission field in northeastern Mexico where he established a successful mission system. From the year 1758 to 1767 he preached all over Mexico, served as a home missionary and was the commissioner of the Holy Office. In the year 1767 he became the leader of the Jesuit missions in California Baja. This was after he arrived in Loreto in the year 1968 and set out to improve and expand his mission establishment. After arriving in San Diego he built the first mission plant and from there on dedicated his time and energy in his mission. By the year 1782, nine missions were founded by him. He achieved the goal of converting the Native