French And Indian War Causes

There were actually a series of "French and Indian Wars" between 1689 and 1763. The last one started in 1754, and is usually called "The" French and Indian War, and was part of the Seven Years War, in which France and Spain were allied against England. The American colonists fought with the English Army against the French and their Iroquois allies. The usual effects of war were suffered by all: Death and destruction of property and great financial burdens. British and French forts were the main objectives, but many towns in the colonies were attacked by the French. Ports were blockaded, causing shortages of supplies and financial pain for importers and shopkeepers. The end came in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris, in which France gave up all claims
Great Britain did not want the US expanding westward and threatening claims they might make North America, so they and Canada supported notable Indian tribes in their resistance against American settlers which was another reason President Madison would eventually cite in order to declare war on Great Britain. Another major factor to the war where the warhawks a group of senators whose most notable member was Henry Clay. The War Hawks, who were interested in expansion westward and into Canada, were angry at British leaders for closing trade channels with America and considered Britain's treatment of American sailors illegal. They believed retaliation was necessary to gain respect from European leaders. In 1812, the United States entered into war with only a fraction of the manpower and weapons that Britain claimed. To lead the Americans into battle, Madison relied on several veterans who served in the Revolution. However, these soldiers were now much older and far removed from battlefield experience. They lacked the training and discipline necessary to undertake a military campaign. An attempt to invade Canada failed when a large number of British troops, and a group led by Indian chief Tecumseh, overwhelmed American forces that were spread too thin. As the war waged on, the American military became hardened by the experience of battle. In the fall of 1813, a fleet led by Captain Oliver Hazard Perry defeated British forces that controlled Lake Erie. As British troops retreated from Detroit, William Henry Harrison gave chase and defeated them at the Thames River. The battle was a turning point for the Americans because among the dead was Chief Tecumseh. Without their powerful leader, the Indians lost