The correct answer is A. They went to convert the native peoples to Catholicism.
1. Friars and Jesuits went to the Spanish colonies in the Americas primarily to convert the native peoples to Catholicism.
2. The Catholic Church played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas by sending missionaries to spread Christianity among the indigenous populations.
3. Conversion to Catholicism was a central goal of the Spanish colonization efforts, as it was seen as a way to "save" the souls of the native peoples and bring them into the fold of the Church.
4. Friars and Jesuits established missions and schools in the colonies to educate the native peoples about Christianity and to promote Catholic beliefs and practices.
5. By converting the indigenous populations to Catholicism, the friars and Jesuits aimed to assimilate them into Spanish culture and society, as well as to solidify Spanish control over the colonies.
Overall, the primary motive behind the presence of friars and Jesuits in the Spanish colonies in the Americas was the mission of converting the native peoples to Catholicism.
