Describe the development of Spanish imperial rule over its territory in the Americas?

The Spaniards came to North America as
conquerors--conquistadores--and to spread the Catholic religion,
amass fortunes of wealth in gold and silver, and increase the glory of Imperial
Spain.

Contact with native tribes also meant the
introduction of disease, and often a 90% mortality rate for the affected tribes. This
made Spanish rule a much simpler proposition.  Another important factor was Spanish
technological superiority in weapons, as was the introduction of their bloodline to form
a new race, the Mestizos, that fostered increased subjugation and assimilation among the
native peoples.

Their system of rule was organized, strict
and widespread, encompassing the majority of South Central and North America at one
time, with remnants of Spanish culture in terms of language, religion and traditions
still dominant and visible today throughout Latin America.