Which of the following was the main reason Spain agreed so readily to sell Florida to the United States?

Answer 1

The main reason Spain agreed to sell Florida to the United States was to alleviate the financial burden and military responsibilities of maintaining the territory. Following the War of 1812, Spain was facing pressures from both the U.S. and internal conflicts within its own empire. The U.S. had ambitions to expand its territory, and Spain recognized it could not effectively govern Florida or defend it against American encroachment. Therefore, in the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. in exchange for the U.S. assuming certain claims of American citizens against Spain and resolving boundary disputes in the southwest.