Despite the efforts of the missionaries, the conversion rates at Mission San Carlos Borromeo remained relatively low. This was due to a number of factors, including:
- The indigenous people's strong attachment to their traditional beliefs and practices.
- The harsh living conditions at the mission, which made many people reluctant to convert.
- The language barrier, which made it difficult for the missionaries to communicate with the indigenous people.
- The negative experiences that some indigenous people had with the Spanish, which made them wary of converting to Catholicism.
2. Disease
Disease was a major problem at Mission San Carlos Borromeo, as it was at many other missions in California. The indigenous people were particularly susceptible to European diseases, such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, to which they had no immunity. These diseases often spread rapidly through the mission communities, decimating the population.
3. Harsh living conditions
The living conditions at Mission San Carlos Borromeo were often harsh. The indigenous people were forced to work long hours in the fields and were often poorly fed and housed. This led to widespread malnutrition, disease, and death.
4. Conflict with the Spanish
The indigenous people at Mission San Carlos Borromeo often had conflict with the Spanish missionaries and soldiers. This conflict was due to a number of factors, including:
- The Spanish imposition of their religious beliefs and practices on the indigenous people.
- The Spanish seizure of indigenous land and resources.
- The harsh treatment of the indigenous people by the Spanish.
5. Decline and abandonment
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Mission San Carlos Borromeo began to decline. The population of the mission decreased, and the mission buildings fell into disrepair. In 1834, the Mexican government secularized the mission, and it was abandoned by the Franciscans.
These are just some of the problems that Mission San Carlos Borromeo faced during its history. Despite these challenges, the mission played an important role in the development of California and the assimilation of the indigenous people into Spanish culture.