After considering some of the Spanish actions, one can understand how they changed the lives of the Indians. Spanish ships were anchored at the port of Monterey’s Bay to control the shore (La Pérouse 53-54). They prevented Native American fishing, which affected their daily lives, as the Indians’ primary occupation was fishing and hunting. The next proof that the Spanish changed the lives of the Indians was the control of the territories. The Spanish lieutenant controlled about a hundred leagues in circumference to secure the obedience of about fifty thousand wandering Indians (La Pérouse 55-56). The lieutenant controlled Californias, both old and new. The third proof of the change in the lives of Native Americans is the cultural conversion of their lives. The Spaniards set themselves the goal of making the Indians more civilized (La Pérouse 63). These actions of the Spaniards were aimed not only at changing the daily way of life of the Indians but their culture, worldview, and relationships with each other.
Despite the Spaniards’ desire to change the lives of Native Americans and make them more civilized, they realized that the process would be long. Moreover, they were aware of the importance of observing the traditions and laws of the Indians and did not take drastic steps (La Pérouse 70-71). The author’s description of the homes in which they lived is the second indication that Spaniards have not changed the lives of Native Americans. Huts of Indians are still the same, with all the necessary elements of their identity and culture. This general architecture of the two Californias has never undergone the smallest change (La Pérouse 80). The third proof is more civil liberty for the Indians and less despotism in the executive power of the presidios (La Pérouse 84). Despite the Spanish desire to change the way of life of the Indians, they did not take drastic measures and preserved the cultural characteristics of the Native Americans.
Work Cited
La Pérouse, Jean-François de Galaup. Monterey in 1786: The Journals of Jean François de la Pérouse. Heyday Books, 1989.