electrical problems

[greasemonkey]

After being plagued with various problems with turn signals, brake lights, etc, I finally bought a turn signal switch. Put it in, no big problems installing it. Turn signals work, hazards don't and they did before. Brake lights don't work. Found blown fuse, put new one in, it blows. After three blown fuses, I found that the white wire coming from the turn signal switch was the cause of the problem. I had accidentally pulled off the connector that hooks into the plug before I installed the new switch so I took one off the old switch and crimped it on with a pair of pliers, and had wrapped it up in tape. Two questions: (1) is the hazard lights hooked into the brake lights and that is why they don't work now, and (2) what should I look for to fix the problem of blowing fuses? I know it is the white wire, but how do I fix it?
I appreciate any help,
John