To infer why the Spanish might have felt it important to train the natives of California for a European colonial society, we can consider several historical factors:
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Colonial Expansion: The Spanish Empire was focused on expanding its territories and consolidating its power in the Americas. Training the natives could facilitate their integration into Spanish colonial society, thereby solidifying Spain's presence in California.
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Labor Force: The Spanish often utilized indigenous populations as a labor force. Training natives in agriculture, crafts, and other skills would have provided a workforce to support colonial economies and missions.
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Cultural Assimilation: The Spanish aimed to convert indigenous people to Christianity and instill European social norms. Training natives would be a means to acculturate them into Spanish ways of life, which was seen as a civilizing mission.
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Political Alliances: By training and educating native populations, the Spanish could establish alliances with local tribes, making it easier to manage and control the territory while reducing the likelihood of resistance to colonial rule.
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Mission System: The establishment of missions was a key component of Spanish colonial strategy. Training natives within this system would help to ensure the success of missions by promoting agricultural development and self-sufficiency within indigenous communities.
In summary, the Spanish likely felt it important to train California's natives for practical reasons related to labor, cultural integration, political control, and the overall success of their colonial endeavors.
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