California mission clash of cultures

The California mission clash of cultures occurred at the Spanish Missions in California during the Spanish Las Californias-New Spain and Mexican Alta California eras of control, with lasting consequences after American statehood. The Missions were militarily protected religious outposts and settlements established by Spanish Catholic Franciscans from 1769 to 1823. Their purpose was to assert Spain's colonial claims in California and defend the colony against other European imperial powers through settlements, profitable export enterprises, and the conversion of the Californian Native Americans to their preferred form of the Christian religion.

The Spanish occupation of California brought some negative consequences to the Native American cultures and populations, both those the missionaries were in contact with and others that were traditional trading partners. These aspects have received more research in recent decades.