American activities were centered on Lake Erie and its connecting waterways for 3 primary reasons: to inflict damage on British military units garrisoned in Upper Canada (today's Ontario), to end the alleged British instigation of Indian depredations on American frontier settlements, and, if possible, to acquire Canadian lands by invasion and occupation.
Exorbitant war reparations were imposed on Germany following its defeat and that of Austria-Hungary in the First World War. It was very difficult for German governments to meet those obligations with France and Great Britain, mainly.
