Final answer:
Spain's desire to have Catholic settlers in Louisiana was driven by its goal to spread Catholicism as part of colonial control and influence. Catholic clergy were instrumental in this process, providing education and attempting to convert indigenous populations, despite the natives' resistance and efforts to maintain their own religious traditions. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Spain wanted Catholic settlers to come to Louisiana primarily because Spain aimed to spread Catholicism and extend its religious influence in the New World. The spread of Catholicism was not merely a matter of faith; it also represented a tool for asserting Spanish control and influencing the cultural and religious landscape in its colonies.
The clergy, including missionaries and secular clergy, played a significant role in this endeavor, both by providing education and by endeavoring to convert the indigenous populations to the Catholic faith, despite resistance from the native peoples who often sought to retain their traditional beliefs or to synthesize them with Christian practices.
As the Spanish colonized new areas, they exploited the native populations, seeking to use them for labor under the guise of offering religious conversion and education. Despite the opposition from the native peoples, which sometimes resulted in revolts such as the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, Spain persisted in its efforts. This reflected a broader European colonial approach, which also involved Portuguese and French colonies, where missionary work aimed at spreading Christianity along with achieving other economic and political goals.
In summary, Spain's motivation for wanting Catholic settlers in Louisiana was rooted in their larger strategy of exerting control and ensuring the spread of Catholicism as part of their colonial goals, including the notion that converting the native population would also lead to a more docile and controllable labor force.
Hence, Option A is correct.