Final answer:
The War of Jenkins' Ear began as England tried to expand into Spanish territory. The conflict between Britain and Spain over contested claims to land in the region between South Carolina and Florida sparked the war.
Step-by-step explanation:
The War of Jenkins' Ear began as England tried to expand into Spanish territory. The conflict between Britain and Spain over contested claims to land in the region between South Carolina and Florida sparked the war. The conflict got its name from an incident in 1731 where a Spanish captain severed the ear of a British captain, Robert Jenkins, as punishment for raiding Spanish ships.
This event fueled the growing animosity between England and Spain and led to the war.