Proclamation of 1763: British Colonial Policy — Reading Comprehension

The Proclamation of 1763 was a law issued by the British government after the end of the French and Indian War. Its main purpose was to prevent further conflict between colonists and Native American nations by stopping British settlers from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British hoped this new boundary would stabilize the frontier and reduce costly wars with Native Americans. However, the Proclamation also created new tensions between Great Britain and its American colonies.

One direct cause of the Proclamation was the violence following the British victory over France in North America. After the war, many British colonists wanted to claim land in the Ohio Valley, but Native American nations, such as the Ottawa and Shawnee, saw this as a threat to their homelands. In 1763, a Native American leader named Pontiac organized a major resistance against British forts and settlements. The British faced a series of attacks, which convinced them that a new policy was necessary to keep peace on the frontier.

The British government believed that controlling colonial expansion would help maintain order and reduce military expenses. In a royal declaration, King George III stated, "...no Governor or Commander in Chief...do presume to grant Warrants of Survey, or pass Patents for any Lands beyond the Heads or Sources of any of the Rivers...which fall into the Atlantic Ocean from the West and North West." This meant colonial governors could not allow settlers to move west into Native American lands. This primary source shows the British intention to protect both their own interests and those of Native Americans, but it also reveals how the government tried to tightly control the colonies.

British officials argued that the territories beyond the Proclamation Line should stay under Native American control to avoid further wars. They saw this as a fair compromise. However, many colonists disagreed. Land was a symbol of opportunity, and some settlers had already moved west or bought land there. Colonists felt that the Proclamation limited their liberty and economic growth. They saw the law as an example of unfair British interference in colonial affairs.

Native American nations, on the other hand, had mixed reactions. Some leaders welcomed the Proclamation, hoping it would protect their lands from settlers. Others distrusted British promises, remembering earlier treaties that had been broken. The boundary was difficult to enforce, and illegal settlement continued. This situation created contradictions: the law aimed to prevent violence, but in practice, it often failed to do so.

The Proclamation of 1763 also set the stage for future conflicts. Colonists' anger over the boundary contributed to growing resentment against British rule. Over time, this resentment helped spark the movement for independence. The Proclamation is an example of how British policies tried to solve one problem but accidentally caused new ones, especially by ignoring colonial expectations and the complex realities of the frontier.

Interesting Fact: Interesting Fact: The Proclamation Line was marked on some early maps, but no actual physical barrier was built along the Appalachian Mountains.

What year was the Proclamation issued?

Who was the British king in 1763?

Where did the Proclamation ban settlement?

Why did the British issue the Proclamation?

What was one effect of the Proclamation?

Who organized resistance after the war?

The Proclamation was easy to enforce. True or false?

What does 'frontier' mean in the passage?