Final answer:
The Spanish and British colonialists in North America divided people based on race through caste systems and segregation, respectively. The Spanish established a caste system based on mixed racial backgrounds, while the British enforced strict racial boundaries and practiced slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Different approaches were taken by the Spanish and British colonialists in North America to divide people according to race. Racial background was the basis for the establishment of a caste system in Spanish America. Mestizos (people of mixed European and Indian ancestry) and pardos (people of mixed African and European ancestry) were two examples of these distinctions. These racial classifications served to restrict mixed-race people's ability to move up the social ladder and preserve the dominance of the European elite.
However, racial segregation was given more importance in British America. The British colonists aimed to uphold rigid racial boundaries because they thought that white people were superior. Slavery was especially common in British colonies, where Africans held as slaves were denied basic rights and treated like property.
In general, racial discrimination was practiced in North America by both Spanish and British colonialists; however, the Spanish system placed greater emphasis on a caste system based on mixed racial backgrounds, while the British system prioritized segregation and the enslavement of Africans.