USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Spanish hoped to defeat the French and establish a settlement in Florida. This would keep the French from gaining power in this part of North America.

Detailed explanation-2: -In contrast with Mexico and Peru, there was no gold or silver to be found. Due to disease and, later, raids by Carolina colonists and their Native American allies, the native population was not large enough for an encomienda system of forced agricultural labor, so Spain did not establish large plantations in Florida.

Detailed explanation-3: -King Philip II of Spain was alarmed because the French had recently built a fort on Spanish-claimed territory 40 miles up the coast, at current-day Jacksonville, Florida.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Spanish assault on French Florida began as part of imperial Spain’s geopolitical strategy of developing colonies in the New World to protect its claimed territories against incursions by other European powers.