What were the primary goals of the Spanish mission system in California?

The primary goals of the Spanish mission system in California were focused on converting Native populations to Christianity and establishing economic outposts. The Spanish sought to spread their religion, specifically Roman Catholicism, among Indigenous peoples as part of their broader agenda of colonization and cultural assimilation. The establishment of missions was a strategic move to both pacify and control the various Native groups while simultaneously expanding Spanish influence over the territory.

In addition to religious conversion, these missions served as agricultural and economic hubs. They often acted as centers for farming and ranching practices, which were intended to sustain the mission and provide resources to the Spanish settlers. This dual purpose of the missions—spiritual conversion accompanied by economic development—was central to the Spanish colonial strategy in California, making this response the best choice. Other options, while they may represent certain aspects of Spanish activity, do not encapsulate the main intent and method of the mission system as effectively as this one does.