Beaglesonian Space Force?

The topic of colonialism is a big bone to gnaw upon and I'm taking my time, avoiding online resources and depending on memory of classes taken, books that I've read and whatever collective wisdom I may have picked up.  For the time being I'm just yapping off the top of my head...

If there was ever a "golden age" of colonialism I would say it started with the discovery of the New World and lasted until the middle of the 20th century.  I agree with Mr. Beagles' assertion that the Europeans considered feudal and tribal lands as fair game, ripe for the picking.  But not all European nations played the colonizing game; it seems to have been limited to those nations that had a significant maritime presence and the financial resources to take the big risks necessary for successful colonization.  It ain't cheap but the rewards were more often then not worth the risks.

Is there any difference between colonies and territories?  The US doesn't have any colonies that I know of but has plenty of territories like American Samoa, Guam (I think), Puerto Rico, and some others.  Politically they are all part of the United States even if they lack statehood; the residents are all US citizens, aren't they?  This is stuff that I'm sure I was taught in school but have long since forgotten.

Something that I haven't forgotten because I don't think it was ever taught to me is Central and South American history,  I know a little, not much, about Mexico but I am shamefully ignorant about all those other countries.  Were they all colonies at one time of European nations and gained independence?  I wonder what differentiates the people of those many small nations; they all speak Spanish and look a lot alike to me.

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The state of Michigan never ceases to amaze me.  I read that the former governor, Rick Snyder, had a study to establish a facility to launch rockets in Northern Michigan.  The new governor has killed that idea for the time being because it lacks details, which is a shame.  The Northern Lights are cool but watching rocket launches would be much cooler.  A bad financial decision, but still cool.