 Nearly all the missions in Baja California were established by members of the Jesuit order supported by a few soldiers.After a power dispute between Charles III of Spain and the Jesuits, the Jesuit colleges were closed and the Jesuits were expelled from Mexico and South America in 1767 and deported back to Spain.After the forcible expulsion of the Jesuit order, most of the missions were taken over by Franciscan and later Dominican friars.