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Spanish colonies depend on the Catholic Church, building forts around each mission.

1772

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Friar Romualdo Cartagena, guardian of the College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro, writes: "What gives the missions their permanency is the aid which they receive from the Catholic arms. Without them pueblos are frequently abandoned, and ministers are murdered... It is seen every day that in missions where there are no soldiers there is no success... Soldiers are necessary to defend the Indian from the enemy, and to keep an eye on the mission Indians, now to encourage them, now to carry news to the nearest presidio in case of trouble. For the spiritual and temporal progress of the missions two soldiers are needed... especially in new conversions."