What larger issue drove the British and Spanish to war over one sea captain´s tale of woe in the War of Jenkins´s ear?

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The War of Jenkins's Ear was primarily driven by ill feelings bred by smuggling. Captain Jenkins had claimed that his ship was boarded and his ear cut off by the Spanish, which led to outrage in Britain and calls for war. However, the underlying tension between the two countries was fueled by the lucrative but illegal practice of smuggling, which both sides accused each other of engaging in.

What Larger Issue Drove the British and Spanish to War