The Spanish Use of Deception and the Defense of America During the War of Jenkin’s Ear (1739–1740)

Abstract

The War of Jenkins' Ear between Britain and Spain was a conflict over trading interests in America and during the conflict the government of Felipe V of Spain showed its full determination to mobilize the country's resources in the defense of the Spanish dominions. The war broke out after years of tension between the two countries in the West Indies and the origins of this tension are to be found in the peace treaty that ended the War of Spanish Succession (1702-13). In Spain, after the War of Spanish Succession, the new Bourbon dynasty introduced several administrative changes to modernize the country. During the War of Jenkins' Ear, Britain dispatched several expeditions to attack the main Spanish cities in America. After the end of the main military operations in America the war between Britain and Spain subsumed into the War of Austrian Succession (1740-8). Keywords: America; Bourbon dynasty; Felipe V; Spain; War of Austrian Succession; War of Jenkins' Ear; War of Spanish Succession