Final answer:
The Spanish missions in the New World had a dual purpose, with the primary goal being to Christianize the Native Americans. However, there were also other motives behind the missions, including the desire to control native labor and land.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish missions in the New World had a dual purpose. While the primary goal was to Christianize the Native Americans, there were also other motives behind the missions. The Spanish saw it as their duty to bring Catholicism to the indigenous population and viewed themselves as superior to the natives. They also sought to control native labor and land, which they believed was rightfully theirs due to conquest. However, it is important to note that some missionaries genuinely cared for the welfare of the natives and worked to bridge the cultural gap between the two societies.