Background Information Background

Information: Antonio de Mendoza was the leader of the colony of

New Spain in Mexico from 1535 to 1549. Eager for the exploration and expansion
of New Spain to continue, he was responsible for sending out the expeditions of several explorers including
Francisco Coronado. Coronado went on this trip with a group of Native American guides, slaves, and Catholic
priests.

And so a group of natives, slaves, and priests went with Francisco Coronado. As soon as the Coronado and
the priests arrived, he sent some Indians home into their country to tell the people that your Majesty
commanded the Natives should no longer be made slaves, and that they should not be afraid anymore, but
might return to their houses, and live calmly and without fighting.

About twenty days after they were told this, about 400 men came to Coronado and told him that they
wanted to meet the men who made them happy by allowing them to return to their houses and to plant
corn, because for many years they were forced run away into the mountains, hiding themselves like wild
animals, for fear they would be made slaves. Coronado comforted the Natives with kind words, and gave
them food, and stayed them with them for three or four days. During this time the priests taught them to
make the sign of the cross, and to learn the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the Natives carefully tried to
learn. After these days he sent them home again, reminding them not to be afraid, but to be at peace, giving
them beads, knives, and other similar things, which I had given him for this purpose. The Indians left very well
pleased, and said, that whenever Coronado would send for them, they and many others would come to do
anything he asked them to do.

Source: This letter was written by Antonio Mendoza. He wrote this letter in 1528 to the King of Spain to tell him
about the different explorations being conducted in the New World.