Proclamation of 1763
What was it?
The Proclamation of 1763 was an order issued by King George III following the end of the Seven (Nine) Years' war. The removal of the French from North America sparked a period of rapid westward migration in the colonies towards what would later become the Midwest. However, by doing so, the colonists severely angered the Native Americans as their land was once again being encroached upon. This caused a series of deadly conflicts between the two sides. Hoping to appease the Native Americans and end the fighting, King George III issued the Proclamation of 1763, which banned all colonial migration west of the Appalachian Mountains. Little did he know the drastic effects it would have...
Why's it important?
The American colonists were none too happy that the land they had just fought and died in a war over with the French was now being barred from them. The Proclamation also led to the end of the British policy of salutary neglect, in which it gave the colonies a great deal of self-rule. This marked the beginning of a series of taxes, regulations, and other statutes. This shift from neglect to direct involvement in colonial affairs would be the deciding factor for America's decision to go to war against Britain and declare independence.