When the Spanish began to colonize the Western Hemisphere and create the land they would call New Spain, they were famously motivated by the "Three Gs": Gold, Glory, and God The conquistadors set out to claim new territories and conquer new people with the hope of converting them to Catholicism and exploiting them for resources and labor. These Spanish interests, along with other significant cultural and ideological differences, clashed with the natives' desire to maintain their religion and remain non-slaves. The Spanish managed to bring many Native Americans to live, work, and pray on their missions, sometimes with appeals to reason or faith, and often with threats. Many Pueblo Indians converted under threat of death, giving the Spanish a false sense of success in their ability to subdue the natives. Spanish leaders and priests were unaware or indifferent to Pueblo discontent, allowing dissent to grow right under their noses. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680, which occurred in what is now New Mexico, saw 20 Pueblo villages band together to rise up against the Spanish, who had colonized the area, and was the largest Native American victory over European colonizers at the time. Much of the reason for this rebellion can be traced to the Spanish's misunderstanding of Pueblo life and their belief in their own superiority, as well as the Pueblo's desire to maintain their ancient traditions and renounce the Catholic doctrine that had often seen them abused. Understanding both sides' point of view can help you understand what led to this uprising. When the Spanish arrived in North America, they decided to build missions deep into what is now the southwestern United States.... .. middle of paper ... the other European powers were unable to do so or were not willing to take risks. This was not the last religious revitalization attempted by Native Americans in North America against white settlers. Indeed, the story of Pope and the Pueblo in many ways mirrors the story of Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa of the Shawnee and their attempts to unite local tribes against settlers encroaching on their land through religious revitalization. The actions of the Spanish in this period gave rise to the Black Legend, which some British pointed to as a reason for colonizing the Americas in order to save the Indians, which was exactly what Spain felt it was doing. This is just one example of a recurring theme in American history, where Europeans believe their culture is better and as such “save” Indians by forcing them to adopt it by any means necessary..