The San Diego de Alcala was the first mission in San Diego. The mission was built July of 1769. Father Serra was the lead "Padre"(priest). The Spanish people carefully worked plans out to establish three main missions: San Diego in Southern California, Monterey in Northern California, to stop any Southern advancement by Russia, and a third to be midway to Spain. The settlers at San Diego did little but erect crude shelters, because ther were so sick after the long journey from Mexico. Conditions were so bad, if a supply ship had not arrived, the mission party would have been ordered back to New Spain to get more supplies. The Indians around the mission were unhappy about these new people invading their ways of life. They were not interested in being forced to be Christian. In time, Father Serra was able to baptize the Indians at his mission. The original site chosen for the mission was abandoned in 1774, and a new site was chosen 6 miles up the river. In 1776, in an effort to stop the Spanish's expansion of Christainity, hostile Indains banded together in a night raid to rid themselves of the intruders.
~~JL
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