British versus Spanish Colonialism

1. What impact did the establishment of the “14th Colony” have on the Westward Expansion of the United States?

2. Why is the story of the California missions not told in connection with the colonization of the east coast in common curriculum?

3. How can I convey to my students the existence of the 14th Colony in conjunctions with the original 13 colonies? Are resources available?

4. What was happening in the rest of the United States at the same time as Junípero Serra was setting up the missions?

5. What  was  different  about  Spanish  motivation / culture / objectives that  led  them  to view Native Americans as potential good citizens of Spain, when this does not seem to have been viewed as a potential solution for colonization in the English colonies?

6. As we study the colonization of the U.S. in fifth grade, how might one compare and contrast the colonization of the U.S. in the thirteen colonies to the Spanish mission period?

7. In what ways was California and the population different/same as the population on the East Coast?

8. What similarities, if any, exist between the Pacific Coast settlements and those of the Atlantic Coast?

9. What do comparisons and contrasts between the early Spanish colonial settlement of St. Augustine, Florida, with the later Spanish colonial settlement of California tell us? What lessons might be learned?

10. Compare and contrast the early interaction and settlement of Native Americans/Europeans along both the East and West coasts of the Americas. What similarities and differences did the Spanish engage in politically, economically and culturally when compared to their European counterparts along the Eastern seaboard and Latin America?

11. How  do today’s citizens of  this former Spanish  colony differ from today’s citizens of former English colonies?

12. In what clear and engaging ways can we place an understanding of colonial life in California in the historical development of colonies throughout the United States?

13. How do the missions of California differ from those in other western areas?

14. How  aware  were  the  Spanish  in  the  Alta  California  missions  and  presidios  of  what  was happening on the East side of the continent? Did they know about the American Revolution and the War of 1812?

15. How did the early Spanish missions in California differ from early Florida missions in architecture and building materials? If  there were indeed differences, what were the reasons or causes? Was the red tile roof also used in Florida? If not, why?

16. How did the missions in California differ from Spanish settlements in Florida and the Caribbean?

17. What are the differences between mission  building in CA versus FL and why does such  little physical evidence remain of Spanish missions in FL?

18. How does the colonization of the west coast by the Spanish compare to that of the Colonies on the east coast?

19. Students on the east coast devote a lot of study to the original 13 colonies, but ­ do west  coast  students  have  similar  dedication  to  studying  the  west  (prior  to  American pioneers  and westward expansion)?

20. How does the colonization of Alta California compare to the colonization of the Eastern colonies?

21. How are the Spanish Missions of California and New Mexico different and similar?

22. How does the daily life of the Native Americans in the California missions compare to life of the Natives in the missions of Texas?

23. Is the art and architecture of the California missions similar to the missions of Texas and the other parts of the southwest?

24. How does the history of Spanish missions taught in Spanish schools compare with that taught in California (and other American states)?  Are there major differences between points of view, impact, and historical influences?

25. How do the California Missions differ from the Missions in Mexico? How do they differ from the ones in Florida?