~Spanish explorers claimed land in North America, but in order to protect the land from other countries, they formed colonies and built forts (called "presidios"). ~The colony of New Spain was officially formed in 1535. ~Thirty years later, the colony of St. Augustine was built in 1565.
~By the year 1550, there were about 100,000 Spanish colonists living in the Americas. Many colonists wanted to come to the Americas to become rich!
~The colonists forced the Native Americans, from the land, and enslaved Africans into slavery. Slavery is the practice of holding people against their will and making them work without pay. Slaves worked in sugar mills, mines (to find gold and silver), and on farms. The slaves worked under terrible conditions. Many of them died from disease.
~Many "missions" were built in New Spain. Missions were religious settlements. Missions helped convert Native Americans to Christianity, which was the religion of the Spanish colonists.
~Spanish colonists built large homes or estates ("haciendas"). They would also bring animals from Spain to the colonies. These animals included: cows, sheep, and horses.