Spanish Missions in Georgia

Question

Priests came to Georgia from Spain to convert the Indians to the Catholic religion and to teach them Spanish customs. The Spanish set up missions, or places where the priests could live and work, in major Indian towns. The missions each had a church and a house for the priest. The priests also traveled from the missions to work with the Indians in the surrounding countryside. The Spanish government saw the missions as a way to control the American Indians. The Spanish priests wanted to change the social customs of the Native Americans. They did not agree with the American Indian practice of allowing men to have more than one wife and did not approve of some of their dances and celebrations. The Spanish also did not like the Indians’ practice of revenge or the fact that they did not stay permanently in one place. The Native Americans were not pleased that the Spanish tried to change or end their traditions, and in 1597, some of them revolted. However, the revolt was put down.

Contact with Native Americans
There were several effects from Spanish contact with the native peoples of the Americas. New varieties of plants, animals, and foods were traded between the explorers and Native Americans, and all parts of the world benefited from this exchange. However, the sharing of microscopic germs and viruses the Europeans brought with them was not beneficial to Native Americans. Europeans had developed immunities to these germs, which allowed their bodies to more ably fight the diseases. Native Americans did not have these immunities, and many died as a result. Historians estimate that as much as 90 percent of the population of native peoples of the Americas died out within a century or two, mainly due to disease. The cultures of the Europeans and Native Americans were very different, which often led to misunderstandings and clashes.

European Interests in the Southeast
Along with Spain, France was also interested in exploring and settling in the Americas to acquire land and wealth. The French first concentrated their efforts in the northern areas, but then made their way down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. They founded Biloxi, Mobile, and New Orleans. They did not find gold in their explorations, but they did establish a very valuable fur-trading business with the Native Americans.

The English also hoped that establishing colonies in the Americas would bring their country wealth and power. The first permanent English settlement was established at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. The English continued to settle the area between Florida and Canada. In the 1600s, Carolina was settled by eight English gentlemen who were given land grants by the king. Settlers established large farms, or plantations, in the area, and traders moved into the backcountry to trade furs with the Indians. Relations between the Native Americans and the settlers were not always peaceful.

answer these questions about Hernando de Soto’s explorations in Georgia

1 Who was involved? Think about the people or groups who were involved and affected by this event.

2 What happened? Summarize the event!

3 Where did the event take place?

4 What region(s) of Georgia did the event take place in?

5 When did the event take place?

6 Why is this event important to Georgia’s history?

Answer 1

Here are the answers to your questions about Hernando de Soto’s explorations in Georgia:

1. Who was involved?
   The key individuals involved in Hernando de Soto's explorations included Hernando de Soto himself, who was a Spanish explorer and conquistador, along with his crew of Spanish soldiers. They interacted with various Native American tribes in Georgia, such as the Muscogee (Creek) people, who were affected by the exploration and the subsequent impact on their land and lifestyle.

2. What happened?
   Hernando de Soto led an expedition through the southern United States, including present-day Georgia, from 1539 to 1542. His expedition aimed to find gold and other riches. De Soto and his men encountered several Native American tribes, leading to both hostile confrontations and trade. The expedition resulted in significant disruption to Native American societies, as they faced violence, disease, and cultural changes due to European contact.

3. Where did the event take place?
   The event primarily took place in various regions across Georgia, as de Soto and his men traversed the land searching for riches. Notable areas include the southeastern part of Georgia, where they interacted with indigenous peoples.

4. What region(s) of Georgia did the event take place in?
   De Soto's expedition traversed regions in southern Georgia, particularly along rivers such as the Chattahoochee and Altamaha, where they encountered numerous Native American tribes and town settlements.

5. When did the event take place?
   Hernando de Soto's explorations in Georgia took place between 1539 and 1542. His expedition marked one of the earliest significant interactions between Europeans and Native Americans in what is now the United States.

6. Why is this event important to Georgia’s history?
   De Soto's expeditions are important to Georgia's history because they marked the beginning of European exploration and colonization in the region. His interactions with Native Americans and the resulting consequences, including the spread of disease and the disruption of indigenous cultures, had lasting impacts on Native American societies and paved the way for future Spanish and other European settlements in the Southeast. De Soto's journey is a significant part of the narrative of European exploration in North America and its effects on Native populations.