Native Americans in California Missions Essay Example for Free

Native Americans in California Missions Essay Spanish wanted to colonize some of America, just like the Europeans. Building religious based Missions all throughout California was a way for them to maintain ultimate social, political, and economic control. Spanish explorers arrived on the border of California during the 16th century. The very first Franciscan mission was built in San Diego during 1769. By 1833, twenty two Spanish Missions existed from Southern California to Northern California. Native Americans made up about one-third of those who lived and worked at the Missions. There were an estimated 310,000 Indians living in California during the 16th century. The Spanish provided the Native Americans with the necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. Although the California Missions had the right intentions of providing for the Native Americans, the Spanish acted in an inhumane and unfair way. Junipero Serra arrived in San Diego in 1768 and lead a group of Franciscans to find property and more importantly, workers. He welcomed the Native Americans with open arms and open doors. In a primary document written by Junipero Serra himself, he admitted that he used the Native Americans solely for work. However, he said that providing them with food and shelter compensates for their hard work. â€Å"So if families other than Indian come from there, it will serve the same purpose very well—that is, if we can provide for them†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Serra). Serra’s defenders state that he respected the Natives’ culture. However, his criticizers argue that he used force to urge the Native Americans to live at the Missions against their will. Although the Natives did not agree with Serra’s beliefs and actions, they were very respectful for the most part. For those who did not respect Serra received physical punishment with â€Å"whips, chains, and stocks to enforce religious obedience† (Serra). Junipero Serra was a great leader who made sure the California Missions were in order. The California Mission had worthy intentions and plans for the Native Americans. The Spanish welcomed them into their ‘homes’ and provided them with the essentials such as food, clothing, and shelter. However, living at the Missions had its consequences. The Native Americans were forced to change their entire lifestyles – from their beliefs, their daily routines, to the way they dressed and what they ate. Although anthropologists conducted that some Native Americans enjoyed their new lives, more than eighty percent refused to convert their ways of life (Sandos, 13). For thousands of years, the Natives were accustomed with their own lifestyle and beliefs, and all of a sudden, everything was stripped away from them. Even their personal identity was taken away from them. The Franciscans provided each individual with Spanish names which were to be used instead of their native birth names. â€Å"The missions were not agents of intentional enslavement, but rather rapid and therefore violent social and cultural change† (Archibald, 24). The Native Americans ended up becoming tax pay citizens along with being under Spanish wing twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Franciscans had very different beliefs and traditions from the Native Americans. The Native Americans were forced to convert their religion to Roman Catholics. The Native Americans were more of a â€Å"spiritual† group rather than a religious group. Instead of believing in personified figures, such as Jesus, they believed spirits lie within their nature. Native Americans feed their energy off of nature. They believed that they are protected by the Mother Nature that surrounded them. The Spanish used religion to explain their actions, which made it ‘okay’ for them to convert the Native American’s beliefs because they were backed up by their god (California). Every person living and working at the Mission had to be officially baptized as a rite of passage. On Sundays and holidays everyone was obligated to go to church and worship. The Natives were forced to memorize Catholic rituals, songs, and scriptures. Prayer lasted four hours on Sundays and feast days. On a regular basis on typical days, prayer lasted two hours. Catholicism was a huge part of living at the Missions. The Missions were surrounded by Spanish soldiers so everyone was watched very closely. Once the Native Americans accepted the Spanish lifestyle, it was nearly impossible to escape. It was as if they were held against their own will. A few sources compare the treatment of Native Americans to slavery (Archibald, 48). Slavery is defined as an economic exploitation that benefits only the slave-owner. In the California Missions, the Native Americans worked solely to provide and maintain a certain lifestyle for the Spanish. Besides minimal food and shelter, the Native America’s natural human rights were stripped from them. Native America women made clothing, prepared meals, cleaned the rooms, and whatever domestic chores needed to be done at the Mission. Native American mothers even had to care for Spanish children instead of focusing on their own (Mission). The Native American men had to hunt for food and build new Missions. In addition, they learned carpentry, leatherworkers, smiths, and farm work. The Franciscans controlled their days into a rigorous schedule announced by church bells (Archibald, 104). If the workers were not done with their tasks by the chimes of the church bells, they would suffer major consequences. The Franciscans did not view their actions as imprisonment because they believed that the providence of food and shelter compensates for Natives’ hard work. In reality, the Missions were not a place to live a life of ease nor was it a place to acquire personal fortune and prosperity. The Native Americans were not worked to death like the slaves in southern United States at this time. However, the strict regulation, cruel and unusual punishments and forced new traditions are extremely inhumane acts. According to Julio Cesar, â€Å"When I was a boy the treatment given to the Indians at the Mission was not good at all. We were at the mercy of the administrator, who ordered us to be flogged whenever and however he took notion† (Mission). Every Mission had two priests. One priest’s duties were to preach and teach about religion. The other priest’s duties were strictly on the work field. He instructed and gave the Native Americans and other workers their duties. The lifestyle in the California Missions was set in a very rigorous schedule so it was nearly impossible for the Native Americans to take a break or escape the hardship. The Natives resisted colonization after just a short time living and working at the Missions. There were a few deadly rebellions conducted by the Native Americans. They destroyed Mission property and even threatened to kill priests. The most infamous attack occurred in San Diego. On November 4, 1775, hundreds of men completely destroyed the Cuiamac Rancheria Mission of San Diego. The men also killed three Hispanics, including the Father, Padre Jaime (Sandos, 92). In addition, in 1824, another great Indian rebellion in California occurred at the Missions of Barbara. A large part of the Mission building was wrecked by a large fire. On the same day, hundreds of Native Americans attacked the Spanish defenders and soldiers. Leaders of the rebellion were severely punished. Seven were executed and the others were imprisoned or required to do even crueler labor. The Natives revolted because of their poor treatment and forced labor enforced by the soldiers and Fathers (Sandos, 73). These rebellions were among the many others throughout the 16th century in the California missions. This proves that the Native Americans were furious about getting different beliefs and work forced onto them. The Spanish settlers caused a lot of health problems to flourish all throughout California. Soon after the arrival of Spanish colonists, diseases spread from Southern California to Northern California so Native American fatalities heightened. Highly infectious diseases such as smallpox, measles, and syphilis killed thousands of Native Americans, especially children, so the Indian population dropped drastically (Sandos, 64). About sixty percent of the Mission Native Americans’ death was due to introduced diseases. In just a few decades, the Native American population in California decreased from 310,000 to about 100,000. Since the California Missions held many residences, people lived in such confined spaces which caused contagious diseases to spread rapidly. In order to keep the population at a steady rate for enough workers, Mission leaders separated Native American children from their parents to maintain the children’s health to save them to work at the Missions as they got older (California). The Natives were furious that their families were being separate. Mothers were not there to care for their children, so the Native children were on their own. There was a lack of physicians to care for the ill so not everyone could be helped. Diseases were not the only reason why the Native population dropped drastically. They went through rigorous changes in diet so their bodies were not used to the food they were eating. In addition, malnutrition caused toxins in their bodies. In addition, the intense demanding manual labor is a factor that contributed to their inability to overcome the sickness. Death rates were higher than birth rates so the Mission had to keep recruiting different tribes all throughout California (Mission). By 1834, there were only about 15,000 Native American residents in the twenty two Missions. The Spanish were only in contact with the Native Americans for personal gain. The Franciscans maintained total economic, social, and political control all throughout California. Very few Native Americans chose to stay at the Missions voluntarily. During their time at the Missions, they had to conduct harsh labor and all of their rights were taken away from them. Although they provided the Native Americans with food, shelter, and clothing, the Franciscans treated them like slaves. The Spanish’s involvement backfired since a majority of Native Americans died due to illness, making them nearly extinct. The physical and metal demands required were a major strain on the Native Americans.

Heroic epic :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A heroic epic is an extended narrative poem, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. Beowulf exemplifies the traits admired by his people, and personifies Anglo-Saxon values. Strength, Skill in battle, Courage, Fame, loyalty, and Generosity are the Anglo-Saxon values that Beowulf embodies and demonstrates throughout the story.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the poem begins, King Hrothgar of Denmark and his entire kingdom is being terrorized by a monster named Grendel. The Danes suffer for twelve years at the hands of Grendel. Eventually, Beowulf and a fourteen men come to rescue Hrothgar, determined to defeat Grendel. Beowulf fights him unarmed, proving that he is stronger than the demon. Beowulf tears the monster’s arm off and Grendel eventually dies. The arm is brought back as a trophy of victory. Grendel’s mother seeking revenge comes to Heorot and kills one of Hrothgar’s favorite men, Aeschere. Beowulf and company travel to the swamp, where she lives, Beowulf dives in the water and fights her in her underwater lair demonstrating his skill in battle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beowulf’s courage, strength, and skill in battle was greatly appreciated by the Danes who now were able to live peacefully and â€Å"monster-less.† His fame has now spread throughout Denmark. After departing, Beowulf returns to Geatland and is reunited with his King and Queen. Beowulf tells of his actions in Denmark thereby earning even more fame and gives most of the treasure he received to his king Hygelac to whom he is truly loyal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During Beowulf’s reign as King of the Geats, and as death is approaching a dragon unleashes fury on Geatland. Once again Beowulf demonstrates his courage. Beowulf and his nephew Wiglaf kill the dragon together, but Beowulf no longer as young or strong, is severely wounded. The dragon has bit him and its venom kills Beowulf moments later. Beowulf demonstrating his generosity gives dragon’s treasure to his people.

John Donne Essay

John Donne’s Valediction Forbidding Mourning is a poem stressing the aspect of love through the use of various metaphors and allusions. Donne’s main influences being utilized in the poem are created from the 17th century metaphysical poetry. The poem in essence is a farewell speech, as is written in the beginning lines. These lines suggest a quiet departure and the syntax of the poem and the meter follow through with traditional rhythm. The speaker does not want a teary goodbye as is read with ‘no tear-floods’. Donne’s alliteration throughout lines 5-8 also give the reader a sense of movement and accenting of the farewell with the phrase, â€Å"twere profanation †¦to tell the laity† in which the ‘t’ sound becomes prevalent and its poignancy points toward an emphasis on the farewell motif of the poem and how the lovers cope with this departure. The purpose of the speaker is to comfort the reader, or the lover in a time of parting. The speaker then requests of the lover that the two part ways calmly and quietly and thus eliminate tears and protests of the departing. The speaker further insists that to part ways in such a platonic fashion alludes to their love being holy. This love however develops beyond the boundaries of the spiritual and is also referenced as being a physical and sexual love. Thus, the poem’s focus is a transformation of the different loves shared by the speaker and the lover and the celebration the two have in these loves which are refined as line 17 points out. The secret that the metaphysical writing gives the reader is that the lovers are so in tune with each other that they are assured, according to the speaker, a happy reunion. It is the sharing of the goodbye that is endearing in the poem, and the way in which Donne analyzes this farewell is also intriguing. Donne’s metaphysics speaks towards the couple’s soul, and it’s joining after being split. This then is a merriment of earthly love or ‘religion of love’. The love being elevated in the poem, is enhanced by the device of metaphor as Donne writes that the love spoken about in the poem is a sacred love. The narrator describes this love as being breed from confidence in love, which gives the two a strength during the parting. Thus, the two are able to endure a brief span of time in which their love will connect them (Nutt 2005). This endurance is made possible by the speaker by emphasizing that the two share a single soul and thus any illusion of division by space, time or distance is inconsequential. This is the extended metaphor of Donne’s poem. The metaphysical conceit in A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning is the comparison of the two unlikely objects of the lovers’ relationship and their two souls being the feet of a drawing compass as seen in the final stanzas. The allusion to feet of a compass, is a metaphor of direction in which love points toward the right direction and the love of the two lovers is merely a circle that has no end, thus, a farewell is of no consequence since it ends and begins in the same instant. Therefore, although the two lovers will be geographically apart from each other, the speaker believes that this will only strengthen their love since the lovers will remain faithful to each other during this separation, thus bringing trust into the equation of Donne’s metaphysics. Another key metaphor used by Donne is that of gold being beaten thin so that it expands and this comparison is made between the love expanding between the two lovers and not breaking (Beliles 1999). Thus, Donne’s use of metaphor through metaphysical aspirations is the main creative elements in his poem. Work Cited Beliles, D. B. Theoretically-Informed Criticism of Donne’s Love Poetry: Towards A Pluralist Hermeneutics of Faith. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc. , 1999. Donne, J. Poems of John Donne. vol I. E. K. Chambers, ed. London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1896. 51-52. Nutt, J. John Donne: The Poems (Analyzing Text). Palgrave Macmillan. New York, 2005.

Negative Influence on Women in the Media Melanic R....

This article, written by Melanic R. Salome , is about the women’s misrepresentation of in media . Salome considers media as an important tool that affects American women in a negative way. Media has become of paramount interest in our lives, despite the fact that its negative influences on us are increasing at a rapid pace. Media promotes unrealistic and unattainable images that result in depression and dissatisfaction among people. Therefore, media reflects the image of society and the way people think about themselves. Moreover, The writer strives to show the portrayal of women as depicted by media, stating that historically women are more likely to suffer from marginalization and stereotyping than men do . She claims that women are mostly represented as sexual objects and marriage oriented. She highlights that it is unfortunate that this marginalization of women is still continuing, but it is being exploited through a different way by media. Women beauty is used in advert isement on purpose to sell products while men are usually represented as elegant leaders and decision makers. Media, according to Salome, tries hardly to convince American society believing in inaccessible and nonsensical goals. The author believes that women should be accepted as they are without being incorporated into the picture of what the ideal women are. Furthermore, she claims that the American society is a society that cares just about appearance as an important part of the human existence.