Question

One of the rationales for overseas colonization was the need to bring primitive peoples to Christianity. How successful were the colonists in these efforts?

Answer 1

Though they were successful in propagating the Christian faith to new lands, sadly they used religion as a tool to subjugate the natives.  By converting them to Christianity, European colonizers used that to compel people to obey their commands even if these commands are unjust.  

Answer 2

If success is to be measured by number of converts, then the colonists were extremely successful. In the case of England, they successfully brought Christianity to many Native American people in the Americas. They also spread Christianity throughout Africa. Other colonists were extremely successful too, in particular the Spanish missionaries. To this day, areas that were colonized by Spain such as the Philippines and Latin America are some of the most Christian regions on Earth.