Spanish and French Missionaries To The New World

Spain sought to change the New World into a Mini-Me, and as part of that, it wanted the indigenous peoples to convert to Christianity. Church leaders came up with a missions plan, which eventually grew from travelling priests into the missions compounds that can still be found throughout Florida, the Southwest U.S., and Central and South America. There, the friars befriended, cared for, educated, and taught trade skills to the orphans and the poor. One such friar was Pedro de Gante, who became known as "America's first teacher."

The New World was covered in darkness. It became even darker as Spain conquered and enslaved the indigenous peoples and pillaged their lands. Three case studies provide examples of this: 1) Pizzaro's murder of Atahualpa and his search for treasure; 2) the mita system at the Potosi silver mine; and 3) the encomienda system. Warning: Discussion of murder and systemic abuse

Into the darkness of the Spanish conquest of the New World came pinpricks of light in the form of missionary friars. This video takes a quick look at two of these friars: Bartolome de las Casas and Junipero Serra. De las Casas was named "Protector of the Indians," and he used his position of power to expose the atrocities being committed by the Spanish and to help and protect the Native Americans. Serra's personal motto was "keep moving forward," and so he did. Despite a wound in his leg that never healed properly, Serra walked over 6,000 miles to bring the Gospel of Christ to the Native Americans and to found missions along the coast of California.

Now the French Jesuits got in on the act in the Great Lakes region. Jacques Marquette was a missionary to the Illinois and explored the Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Illinois rivers. John de Brebeuf became the "Apostle to the Hurons" and died a horrific martyr's death at the hands of the Iroquois. The seeds planted by these and other missionaries into the fertile ground of the Native Americans grew into a great harvest. Warning: Discussion of torture and murder/martyrdom