As the result of a Mexican law passed in 1833, California missions were used primarily ___________.
A) to organize Indian labor
B) as a refuge for Native Americans fighting against removal to Indian Country by federal authorities
C) to care for European American migrants who needed shelter until they could build their own homes
D) to provide a safe haven to residents who had been the victims of anti-Catholic hate crimes

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Mexican law passed in 1833, called the Secularization Act, aimed to transition the California missions from religious institutions to economic ones. This meant that the Native American converts who had been living and working at the missions were supposed to become self-sufficient and support themselves through agriculture and skilled trades. However, the law also allowed for the new Mexican government to control the land on which the missions were built and to use the Indian labor for public works projects. Therefore, the primary use of California missions after the Secularization Act was passed was to organize Indian labor.

As the Result of a Mexican Law Passed in 1833