Final answer:
The Pueblo Revolt was a response to the forced conversion to Catholicism and suppression of native religious practices by Spanish missionaries. Under the leadership of Popé, the Pueblo expelled the Spanish in 1680, although Spain regained control in 1692 with slightly more tolerant policies towards Pueblo traditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pueblo revolt against the Spanish missionaries in New Mexico was largely a response to the Spanish insistence on converting the Pueblo to Catholicism and eradicating their traditional religious practices. The Franciscan missionaries sought a spiritual conquest that required natives to abandon their ancient beliefs completely. This cultural imposition, paired with additional hardships like drought and Apache and Navajo attacks, which were attributed to the Spanish presence, prompted the Pueblo to rise up. Led by the Tewa religious leader Popé, the revolt aimed to reclaim their traditional ways and rid the area of Spanish influence.
In 1680, the Pueblo succeeded in ousting the Spanish through a coordinated rebellion, which culminated in the death of over four hundred Spaniards and the fleeing of the rest. However, this autonomy lasted only twelve years as persistent droughts and rival tribe attacks allowed the Spanish to regain control. The lasting impact of the revolt was significant though, as subsequent Spanish colonial policies adjusted to allow Pueblo tribes to retain much of their traditional culture and religious practices.
The Spanish missionaries' attempts to control the labor of the native people and impose Catholicism met with resistance across New Spain. The Pueblo Revolt is a prime example of the indigenous peoples' fight for their rights, culture, and autonomy against European colonial powers. While the revolt did not grant permanent independence, it forced Spain to adapt its policies and acknowledge native customs and religious practices.