Answer:
The Spanish were among the first Europeans to explore the New World and the first to settle in what is now the United States.
Explanation:
The priority locations for Spanish occupation were the Caribbean islands, South America, and Mexico. Expanding to the north and planting settlements in "Florida" was a low priority.
The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Catholic faith through indigenous conversions. Racial mixing was a central process in the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and ultimately led to the Latin American identity, which combines African, Hispanic, and Native American cultures.
