How did Spain benefit from settling Florida in the mid-sixteenth century?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The settlement of Florida provided a strategic location for the Spanish to protect their ships traveling from Europe to the Americas from pirate attacks, enhancing their trade and commerce with the New World. There is no evidence that settlers found vast riches in Florida, and the colony was not the most populous or profitable Spanish colony. The climate was also not ideal for growing tobacco.

How Did Spain Benefit from Settling Florida in the Mid-Sixteenth