Question

Jean Lafitte raided Spanish ships in the Gulf of Mexico for which primary reason?

a) To disrupt Spanish trade
b) To acquire gold and silver
c) To support the Mexican Revolution
d) To establish a pirate stronghold

Answer 1

The correct answer is option b) To acquire gold and silver.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jean Lafitte is most famously known for his activities as a privateer and a smuggler in the Gulf of Mexico. Histories suggest that his primary motive for raiding Spanish ships was to acquire gold and silver, making option (b) the most accurate answer. Privateers of his era were motivated by wealth, and the rich cargo ships that traversed the Gulf were prime targets. Lafitte's activities also had the side effect of disrupting Spanish trade (option a), but that was not considered his primary objective.

The other options, such as supporting the Mexican Revolution (option c) and establishing a pirate stronghold (option d), do not accurately reflect Lafitte's known motivations. Lafitte's piracy was more related to personal enrichment and challenging Spanish authority than being linked to the broader political cause of Mexico's independence or establishing a permanent pirate base.