Spain the colonial army during the american revolution by
building ships for american use.
keeping the british navy occupied.
forcing general cornwallis to surrender.
trapping the british on a peninsula at yorktown.

Spain specifically helped the Colonial army during the American Revolution by keeping the British navy occupied. Naval support was, in fact, one of Spain's most significant forms of aid to the Americans during the American Revolution, and it entailed engaging the British navy in other fronts (such as Gibraltar) so it would not use all its military power in its American colonies. Likewise, the Spanish also helped the French navy in the blockade of the British at Yorktown in 1781, which eventually forced Cornwallis to surrender, since the British could not provide him with supplies.