Question

how can i begin to contrast the british and spanish colonization of america?

Answer 1

Think of regionality. America as in the continent? Or the modern country?

The British colonies were created as part of the rapid expansions outward by all well developed nations. Think of how the peoples were governed. What people were brought to the colonies? Criminals? Religious discontents?

The Spanish colonized seeking riches and power. As exemplified through their many reaches in South America. They enslaved the locals (see Mayans in 1500's) and enforced their cultures upon the peoples.

Look how the British colonies were all for clearing out the indigenous peoples and claiming their lands, while the Spanish (who held Florida for a long time) used the peoples as slave labor, even creating social classes based upon how much Spanish blood they had.