Final answer:
Jesuits and friars primarily went to the Spanish colonies in the Americas to convert native peoples to Catholicism, part of Spain's broader colonial strategy of 'God, Gold, and Glory.' They established missions and sought to educate and integrate native societies while often advocating for their rights, as in the case of Bartolome de las Casas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Motivations of Jesuits and Friars in the Spanish Colonies
The primary reason Jesuits and friars went to the Spanish colonies in the Americas was to bring Catholicism to the native peoples. This evangelizing mission was deeply ingrained in the Spanish colonial agenda which encompassed "God, Gold, and Glory." While conquistadors were motivated by wealth and conquest—seeking gold and silver, the Catholic missionaries had the goal of religious conversion.
By the mid-16th century, numerous missions had been established throughout the Spanish colonies, with friars often winning the trust of Native Americans and educating them along with conversion efforts. Dominicans, like Bartolome de las Casas, became advocates for the rights of native peoples, recognizing their sophisticated cultures and arguing against their dehumanization. Similarly, the Jesuits practiced cultural accommodation, tailoring their religious teachings to the contexts of local indigenous societies without forcibly changing their entire way of life.
These endeavors did not go without resistance; European diseases and forced conversions took a staggering toll on indigenous populations. However, the spread of Catholicism still stands as a lasting legacy of the Spanish in the New World, distinct from the colonization patterns of other European powers which focused more on trade, such as the French and the Dutch, or establishing agrarian societies, like the English.
Learn more about Spanish Colonization