What is one reason Britain passed the Proclamation of 1763?
To protect the French who lived east of the Appalachians
To prevent costly conflict with the Native Americans
To expand its empire east of the Appalachians
To increase trade with the Native Americans
The correct answer is "To prevent costly conflict with the Native Americans." The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by the British government after the French and Indian War to avoid conflicts between colonists and Native American tribes.
To arrive at this answer, one can examine the historical context of the Proclamation of 1763 and the events surrounding it. Here's a step-by-step process to reach the correct answer:
1. Understand the historical context: The Proclamation of 1763 was issued after the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years' War), which took place from 1754 to 1763. During this war, Great Britain fought against France, and both sides recruited Native American tribes as allies.
2. Analyze the purpose of the Proclamation: The British government wanted to establish peace and stability in the newly acquired territories from France. The conflicts between the new British colonists and the Native American tribes were becoming increasingly costly and dangerous. Thus, a major goal of the Proclamation of 1763 was to prevent clashes and reduce tensions between these groups.
3. Evaluate the options: Option A suggests that the Proclamation aimed to protect the French who lived east of the Appalachians. However, after the French and Indian War, British control extended over these territories, so the protection of French settlers was not a primary motive for the Proclamation.
Option C suggests that the Proclamation aimed to expand Britain's empire east of the Appalachians. While this was indeed a broader goal of the British Empire, the main purpose of the Proclamation was more specific and focused on diminishing conflict with the Native Americans.
Option D suggests that the Proclamation aimed to increase trade with the Native Americans. Although trade relations with Native Americans were significant, the primary motivation for the Proclamation was to prevent costly conflicts, rather than fostering trade specifically.
4. Determine the correct answer: Comparing the options, Option B, "To prevent costly conflict with the Native Americans," aligns with the primary purpose of the Proclamation of 1763, as it addresses the immediate concern of maintaining peace with the Native Americans.
Therefore, one reason Britain passed the Proclamation of 1763 was to prevent costly conflict with the Native Americans.