Europeans were originally motivated to explore the seas to discover previously unknown lands, especially after the contact with America, where europeans found all kind of valuable goods. The portuguese were the first to pursue maritime exploration, soon to be followed by the spaniards.
True-he did serve as leader of court
In Puerto Rico it was useful, in Cuba not so much. Cubans perceived the outcome as occupation and didn't want to have United States occupation in their country. Puerto-Ricans had a form of a civilian government with independence and Puerto-rican citizenship but the country belonged to US.
when something doesn't go your way or the way u want it to