How did a single severed ear spark a global colonial war?

"The War of Jenkins' Ear (1739-1748) was a colonial conflict fought between Great Britain and Spain, primarily in the Caribbean and off the coast of South America. Looking to protect its interests in the West Indies, Britain provoked a war with Spain, one of its biggest colonial rivals, citing the mistreatment of one Captain Robert Jenkins, who was detained - and allegedly mutilated - by Spanish coast guards as they searched his ship for smuggled goods."

"In 1739, British Vice Admiral Edward Vernon sailed a fleet into the Caribbean, where he won some victories before his eventual defeat at the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in 1741. After that climactic battle, the war fizzled out as the British soon had their hands full with other conflicts, such as the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) in Europe and King George's War (1744-1748) in North America."

"Since the conclusion of Queen Anne's War (1702-1713), the European colonial powers in North America had enjoyed a relative period of peace. This was largely the work of Sir Robert Walpole, the leading British politician of the day, who became prime minister in 1721. Walpole and his Whig government believed that the British Empire would profit more from avoiding wars, both on the continent and overseas. Without the burdensome cost of military upkeep, Walpole was able to lower taxes while simultaneously working to pay off the national debt, with a sinking fund. Though many celebrated this pacifist policy, it was opposed by the Tories in Parliament, who feared that a non-combative Britain would soon fall behind its rivals, particularly in the Americas. The French, for example, were steadily expanding their influence in the West Indies, growing rich off their sugar plantations there. Should French meddling in the region go unopposed, then France would surely dominate the lucrative West Indies trade, at the expense of Britain's imperial interests. For these reasons, the Tories demanded a show of military force"

The War of Jenkins' Ear (1739–1748) was a colonial conflict between Great Britain and Spain fought mainly in the Caribbean and off the coast of South America. Britain cited the detention and alleged mutilation of Captain Robert Jenkins during a Spanish search for smuggled goods as justification to protect West Indies interests. Vice Admiral Edward Vernon led a British fleet to the Caribbean in 1739, achieving some early victories but suffering a major defeat at Cartagena de Indias in 1741. After Cartagena British focus shifted to the War of the Austrian Succession and King George's War, and wartime momentum faded. Domestic politics under Sir Robert Walpole favored peace to reduce costs and pay down the national debt, while Tories pressed for military action to check French expansion in the West Indies.

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