British Victory in Cartagena, 1741

(I'm really not sure if this should go here... if anything, tell me)

So from what I read, the main objective of the United Kingdom in the war was to secure the four main ports of Spain in the Caribbean (Portobelo, Veracruz, Santiago de Cuba and Cartagena) and disrupt the defensive and trading system that Spain had there. But what I'm not sure of, what exactly did they want to do afterwards? Territorial expansion, new favourable conditions of trade?

Also, since the attack failed spectacularly in real life and nothing was really accomplish at the end, how do you think the British Army could've won? Was it worthy to attack Cartagena instead of Cuba in the first place?
 
Nope, this is definitely the place to ask! :)

I would say their goals were of favorable trade conditions a la gaining the Asentio in 1713 far more than territorial expansion. Most of Britain's expansion in blocks of land were for securing their original eastern seaboard/Thirteen Colonies' immediate hinterlands or any West Indian islands they were the original settlers off - witness getting Acadia/Nova Scotia, and securing Newfoundland and Rupert's Land, in 1713 and hemming in Canada completely barring an access point to it via Cape Breton/Louisbourg. Jamaica up to the French and Indian War was their most out-there territory in terms of being deep within enemy waters, so to speak.

The plan itself sounds fine, disrupt Spanish trade in the area of Tierra Firme/Spanish Main and within a four-point quadrant of cities. It just wasn't EXECUTED fine. :p And Cuba itself would be one hell of a nut to crack, so I can't blame Britain for not considering worth attacking at the time, rich as it was.
 
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