Question

Why did the American colonials react negatively to the Proclamation of 1763? They wanted to maintain friendly relations with the American Indians. They wanted to keep the peace with the remaining French settlers. They wanted to expand trade with the Spanish colonies. They wanted to get more land by expanding further west.

Answer 1

The American colonials reacted negatively to the Proclamation of 1763 because they wanted to get more land by expanding further west. The proclamation, issued by the British government, restricted colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. This frustrated the colonists who desired access to the fertile lands and economic opportunities available in the western territories. They believed that they had fought and won the French and Indian War, in part, to gain control over these territories and felt that the British government was unjustly limiting their access to land and resources. Hence, their negative reaction stemmed from their desire for westward expansion and the belief that the proclamation hindered their ability to acquire more land.