The Americas
Arguably,
the most success came in the Americas. Spanish and Portuguese missionaries set
up missions, mainly in the present-day southwestern United States, which
successfully instructed the natives in Christianity and caused them to adopt many
Christian practices.
They used non-aggressive tactics, such as living alongside the natives rather than forcing them to live near the mission sites and allowing for cultural tradition, rather than trying to force Native Americans to fit the quote-on-quote “white American mold.”
However, some Native Americans were forced to work on the missions, and especially in South America and the Caribbean, many tribes were enslaved and forced to work on plantations along with African slaves. This sometimes resulted in fighting and retaliation by the natives. In response to this politically-centered avarice by colonists, many people protested this mistreatment of natives and worked to improve their conditions.
In Quebec and other northern territories, French missionaries sought to evangelize, but they were met with more limited success.
In addition to converting a number of tribes to Christianity, the missionaries, particularly in the Southwest United States, introduced horses and sheep, which brought changes in the way of life for the natives, who were able to use the horses in war and hunting and use wool to make clothing.
While many of the natives were converted to Christianity, sadly, many of them were later wiped out by disease or mistreatment.
They used non-aggressive tactics, such as living alongside the natives rather than forcing them to live near the mission sites and allowing for cultural tradition, rather than trying to force Native Americans to fit the quote-on-quote “white American mold.”
However, some Native Americans were forced to work on the missions, and especially in South America and the Caribbean, many tribes were enslaved and forced to work on plantations along with African slaves. This sometimes resulted in fighting and retaliation by the natives. In response to this politically-centered avarice by colonists, many people protested this mistreatment of natives and worked to improve their conditions.
In Quebec and other northern territories, French missionaries sought to evangelize, but they were met with more limited success.
In addition to converting a number of tribes to Christianity, the missionaries, particularly in the Southwest United States, introduced horses and sheep, which brought changes in the way of life for the natives, who were able to use the horses in war and hunting and use wool to make clothing.
While many of the natives were converted to Christianity, sadly, many of them were later wiped out by disease or mistreatment.