Final answer:
Spanish missions aimed to culturally assimilate and convert indigenous people to Catholicism while exploiting their labor for colonial gains. Despite severe mistreatment and exploitation, indigenous resistance led to the retention of many native beliefs and practices, especially in Central and South America.
Step-by-step explanation:
A major goal of Spanish missions was to culturally transform and Christianize indigenous people, aiming to integrate them into the Spanish colonial society. The Spanish pursued this objective, along with acquiring wealth, particularly gold and silver. They believed in their divine right to conquest, expecting the indigenous to work for them, providing labor in return for the Spaniards bringing Catholicism. However, this relationship was often one-sided, with natives being exploited and severely mistreated. Conflict arose when the natives resisted the disruption to their belief systems and forced labor. Despite attempts at imposing Spanish culture and religion, the indigenous persisted in their resistance, with many retaining their own religious beliefs and customs, leading to a differing impact on cultures in Central and South America compared to North America.