The Spanish came to America to spread the Christian faith and to expand trade. The Spanish colonization of America was started by the Spanish conquistadors.
Christopher Columbus arrived in America in 1492 and, during the next 400 years, the Spanish arrived and took control of most of the North American continent, including Mexico, the California Pacific Coast, Central America and even parts of Canada.
When they arrived, they quickly began opening up new trade routes and spreading Christianity throughout the land. It wasn't until the Spanish-American War in 1898 that they lost their hold on the country, although the Spaniards held onto Puerto Rico and Cuba after the war.
