After 1769, the life of the California natives [Native Americans] who came in contact with the Spanish was reshaped by the mission fathers, not the townspeople of the pueblos or the soldiers of the presidios. The Franciscans [Catholic priests and friars] came to California not merely to convert the tribes to Christianity but to train them for life in a European colonial society. Conversion was seldom an entirely voluntary process, and converts (neophytes) were not left to return to their old ways but were required to live in the walled mission enclosure or on rancherías, separate settlements sponsored by missions although located some distance from the mission proper. There they were taught Spanish as well as the tenets of their new religion and trained in skills that would fit them for their new lives: brickmaking and construction, raising cattle and horses, blacksmithing, weaving, tanning hides, etc.
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
Inferring from this text, why might the Spanish have felt it important to train the natives of California for a “European colonial society”?
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Responses
to spread European beliefs and language
to spread European beliefs and language
to make the Native Americans equals in all colonial societies
to make the Native Americans equals in all colonial societies
to make it easier to govern the Native Americans
to make it easier to govern the Native Americans
to prevent the Native Americans from leaving
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The best response to the question is:
to make it easier to govern the Native Americans.
This inference is supported by the text, which indicates that the mission fathers aimed to train the natives in skills necessary for life in a European colonial society, suggesting that this training was a method of establishing control and governance over the indigenous population.
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