What was the cause and effect of the proclamation of 1763?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Proclamation_of_1763
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/proc63.htm
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_461511114/royal_proclamation_of_1763.html
The Proclamation of 1763 was a British policy issued in the aftermath of the French and Indian War (1754-1763) that aimed to regulate the expansion of settlement into the western territories of North America.
The immediate cause of the Proclamation was to address conflicts between Native American tribes and British colonists. The British government wanted to avoid costly conflicts with Native American tribes, who were upset with the encroachment on their traditional lands by settlers. The Proclamation sought to prevent further clashes by establishing a boundary line beyond which settlement by colonists was prohibited. This boundary, known as the Proclamation Line, ran along the Appalachian Mountains, marking a division between the British colonies and Native American lands.
The effects of the Proclamation of 1763 were significant and spanned across various groups and regions.
1. Native Americans: The Proclamation was intended to protect Native American lands from further encroachment by settlers. However, it also reinforced the idea of Native American lands being under British control, disregarding the sovereignty of indigenous peoples. Some Native American tribes found the Proclamation favorable since it attempted to stabilize their territories, but others, like the Iroquois Confederacy, felt it limited their ability to negotiate with the British.
2. British Colonists: Many British colonists, particularly those living in the American interior, were angered by the Proclamation. They viewed it as an undue restriction on their freedom to expand onto desirable lands and saw it as an encroachment on their rights as British subjects. This frustration added to the growing tensions that eventually led to the American Revolution.
3. French Influence: The Proclamation also aimed to prevent further clashes with French settlers, as France had recently ceded much of its North American territory to Britain under the Treaty of Paris in 1763. By establishing the Proclamation Line, the British hoped to maintain control of French-speaking communities and limit their expansion.
4. American Revolution: The Proclamation of 1763 was one of the factors that contributed to the growing discontent among the American colonists and their eventual push for independence. The restrictions placed on westward expansion and the perceived infringement on their rights fueled grievances against British rule, adding to the growing list of grievances that culminated in the American Revolution.
In order to fully understand the causes and effects of the Proclamation of 1763, it is helpful to study the historical context of the French and Indian War, British colonial policies, and the broader dynamics of territorial disputes and geopolitical interests in North America during that time period.