Question

How did the importance of the borderlands influence the way Spain ruled this region

Answer 1

Borderlands were important, because they kept other Europeans settlers out. Spain was careful about who they let in and out. Spain had colonies that bordered lands where the French and English settlers were moving. However, the Spanish colonies were already hundreds of years older than that of the other settlers and didn't want the other cultures to influence their goverment. To make sure that their borderlands were secure, they set up military and missions there.