The different treaties and relationships between the Native American tribes and the European colonists was VERY complex and continually changing. The British had the highest population and traded with the Indians for furs. The French also traded for furs and had treaties with tribes that were at war with the British tribes to assist them against the British. The Spanish also had small number of colonists and used the tribe treaties to assist them against the British and French.  All tribes used the British, French and Spanish to assist them in their disputes with other tribes. Unfortunately for the native tribes the entire balance was disrupted when the Spanish left Florida and the French eventually gave up Canada and the Mississippi valley. Now they did not have another European power to play off against the British. There was too much animosity among the tribes for them to unite against the British and they no longer had other European nation to trade for the guns and ammunition that they had become dependent on for fighting and hunting.

(Book – American Colonies – Alan Taylor)