Everything students need to know about the
Proclamation of 1763.
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Transcript:
In the years following the conclusion of the
French and Indian War, relations between
Great Britain and its
American colonies began to sour. In a matter of only twelve years, a series of disagreements would ultimately lead to rebellion and revolution. What were some of these disagreements?
One of the earliest problems was a royal decree, issued by
King George III, known as the Proclamation of 1763. This order stated that colonists couldn't settle lands west of the
Appalachian Mountains. It would remain
American Indian territory for the time being, the result of a backlash from a
Native American uprising known as
Pontiac's Rebellion.
Once the
Treaty of Paris was signed, colonists began eyeing western lands won from the
French.
Colonists were already encroaching upon the lands, and clashes between colonists and
Natives were becoming both frequent and alarming.
Many Native American leaders, foreseeing the impending flood of settlers into their territory, began calling for
American Indians to unite in defense of their lands.
History has called the ensuing uprising Pontiac's Rebellion, named after one of the
Ottawa chiefs who led the movement.
Over a span of 1,
000 miles, Native American attacks on the frontier were violent and furious. They attacked forts (destroying or capturing seven of them), cabins, and hunters.
British general
Jeffrey Amherst and soldiers were sent to meet the threat at
Forts Pitt and
Detroit. He and
500 men were ambushed by an unknown number of
Shawnee (and allied tribes) at Bushy Run. Over
300 Shawnee were killed or wounded while the others scattered.
The event got
London's attention, and the result was the Proclamation of 1763.
Britain sent more troops to
North America and began constructing additional forts. This came at a cost of 320,000 pounds a year.
The
British Parliament felt that since the resources were going to the defense of the colonies, the
American colonists should pay for it; but
Americans viewed the scenario differently.
Nearly every male colonist owned a gun, and from the age of 16 to 60, most served in the militia. In all, the colonists outnumbered the Natives living on the frontier
20 to 1. Colonists didn't feel that the troops were needed.
Prior to the French and Indian War, Britain had kept no standing army in the American colonies. Now that the war had been won, and the French had abandoned North America, more troops were being shipped in. Colonists also had all of the new land acquired from
France, and King George III would not allow them to settle it, going so far as sending troops to forcibly remove settlers from the forbidden lands.
Colonial agitation grew. Then
Parliament issued the
Quartering Act of 1765.
The Quartering Act of 1765 stated that colonists had to provide housing (in barracks, public houses, inns, ale houses, or livery stables), food, and supplies for the
British troops. Colonists had no say in the matter.
Thomas Gage, the officer placed in charge of troops in North America, determined to station most of his soldiers in
New York so that they could quickly be deployed to hot spots whenever needed. Initially, New York refused to accommodate the troops, but agreed to take them in after Parliament suspended their royal governor and the
New York Assembly.
- published: 07 Apr 2014
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