Before Columbus landed in the West Indies in 1492, the Spanish Inquisition made it known to anyone within Spain's domain of influence that if a person was not Catholic, he or she was to be punished severely and sometimes even fatally. This influence would undoubtedly be carried over to the Americas a century later, when colonization of the New World would then begin. Although it was crucial for the Spanish (as well as the Portuguese) to improve their economy using the resources they found in Latin America, to some of them it seemed like that was the only reason for being there, or the main reason they were there . at least one reason. During the Spanish Inquisition and from then on, the Pope's main goal was to convert everyone to Roman Catholicism; the opportune moment came when the Americas were found, along with the natives who resided there and waited to convert. Although it didn't seem that difficult in theory, the Pope along with the Crown of Spain set out with the goal of converting the Native Americans. A decisive factor that called into question that conversion decree was the economic benefits that Spain would receive. This would ultimately change Spain's agendas, and ultimately indirectly push those living in the New World to choose: Spain or religion? This was not said in these exact words, but people, especially religious orders, should choose to fight for what they believe in, or follow orders directly from the Spanish Crown. Two conflicts during this period are seen as significant towards this battle between native interests in the Americas. One of which was between two men: Bartolomé Las Casas and Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda. Las Casas defends t......middle of paper......ex. Although Eduardo Galeano's poetry may be fiction, at the end of one of his poems he says a phrase that rings very true to this conflict: "The desire to make money, not to win souls, is what builds empires." Bibliography Charles III. Expulsion of the Jesuits. Letter. The Spanish tradition in America. 1767.Galeano, Eduardo. Genesis: Memory of Fire, Volume 1 (Memory of Fire Trilogy). New York: W. W. Norton and Company., 1998.Joffé, Roland. "The Mission." 1986. DVD Las Casas, Bartolomé. Cruelty of the Spaniards. Wise. The Spanish tradition in America. Chiapas: 1542.Las Casas, Bartolomé. Treaty. Treaty. The Spanish tradition in America. Seville: 1552.Paul III, pope. Indians are men. Letter. The Spanish tradition in America. Vatican City: 1537.Sepúlveda, Juan Ginés de. Just war against the barbarians. Wise. The Spanish tradition in America. 1544.