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In early modern Britain, there was an argument that war at sea, especially war in Spanish America, was an ideal means of warfare, offering the prospect of rich gains at relatively little cost whilst inflicting considerable damage on enemy financial resources. This book examines that argument, tracing its origin to the glorious memory of Elizabethan maritime war, discussing its supposed economic advantages, and investigating its influence on British politics and naval policy during the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-13) and after. The book reveals that the alleged economic advantages of war at sea were crucial in attracting the support of politicians of different political stances. It shows how supporters of war at sea, both in the government as well as in the opposition, tried to implement pro-maritime war policy by naval operations, colonial expeditions and by legislation, and how their attempts were often frustrated by diplomatic considerations, the incapacity of naval administration, and by conflicting interests between different groups connected to the West Indian colonies and Spanish American trade. It demonstrates how, after the War of the Spanish Succession, arguments for active colonial maritime war continued to be central to political conflict, notably in the opposition propaganda campaigns against the Walpole ministry, culminating in the War of Jenkins's Ear against Spain in 1739. The book also includes material on the South Sea Company, showing how the foundation of this company, later the subject of the notorious 'Bubble', was a logical part of British strategy. Shinsuke Satsuma completed his doctorate in maritime history at the University of Exeter.

Spanish Succession, War of, 1701-1714 --- War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714 --- Naval operations, British. --- South Sea Company. --- Compagnie du Sud --- Company of Merchants Trading to the South Seas --- Governour and Company of Merchants of Great Britain Trading to the South Seas and Other Parts of America, and for Encouraging the Fishery --- Great Britain --- South America --- History, Naval --- Company of Merchants of Great Britain Trading to the South Seas and Other Parts of America, and for Encouraging the Fishery --- Military policy. --- Military policy --- Economic aspects. --- Atlantic. --- Britain. --- Colonial Maritime War. --- Diplomatic Considerations. --- Early Eighteenth Century. --- Economic Advantages. --- Naval Policy. --- Seapower. --- Silver. --- Spanish America. --- Spanish American Trade. --- Walpole Ministry. --- War at Sea. --- War of Jenkins's Ear. --- War of the Spanish Succession. --- West Indian Colonies.