California Missions

California Missions

California Missions
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	high interest, readability grades 5 to 6
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	4.21

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		historic, original, religion, bows, freedom, leader, goal, trickle, rely, chain, wool, cruel, site, become, fell, livestock
	content words:		Native Americans, El Camino Real, Mexico City, San Diego, Mission San Francisco Solanno

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California Missions
By Cathy Pearl

¹     Missions were started in the 1700s. The people who started the missions had a goal. They wanted Native Americans to change to their religion. The first mission was started in 1769. There would be many missions started in the west.

²     Most of the missions were built on a road called El Camino Real. The chain of missions would go for 650 miles. The men who were at the missions were called padres. They had to spend two years being trained in Mexico City. This was before they were allowed to come to any of the missions.

³     The missions did not rely on anyone for what they needed. The padres brought many seeds and plants from home. There were farms on the missions to grow the food that they needed. The men in the missions started many of the fruit trees and grapes.

⁴     Livestock was also grown. It wasn't only used for food. The wool and leather was used for clothes. The animals could also be used to work the land on the farms.

⁵     Kitchens and bakeries made a lot of food every day. They had to feed all of the people that lived at the mission. They also made candles, soap, and grease. These items were made from tallow. Tallow is animal fat. There were also areas to store extra food until it was needed.

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