The Royal Proclamation Of 1763
The British authorities presented the Proclamation of 1763 at the end of the Indian-French conflict to placate Native Americans by limiting territories expansion by European immigrants. A proclamation line was established, which divided British possessions on the Atlantic coast. The Royal proclamation was issued by King George 111 to claim British territories in North America, provisioned by the treaty of Paris 1763. The Royal Proclamation prevented the invasion of Indian territories for peaceful coexistence between Indians and European settlers in Native America. The Royal Proclamation declared four colonial territories of Britain and forcefully banned settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains by blocking trade and sale of land by Indians.
How British authorities attempted to satisfy the British and French Colonists
The Proclamation would control colonist attacks by the Indians. There were constant revolt attacks by Native Americans ushered by Pontiac, who was an Ottawa chief. The Royal proclamation would block settlers’ expansion westward beyond Appalachia boundaries. Settlers bought lands from the Native Indians fraudulent and abusive before the Royal Proclamation.[1] Expansions to the Indian lands by the colonial settlers culminated in numerous riots and revolts. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 forbade colonial territories and private citizens from purchasing land and doing business with the native Indians.[2] Only licensed traders would be allowed to conduct trade with the Indians beyond the boundaries. Safeguarding colonialists from Indian rampages would maintain peace and stability in the colonies.
How the Royal Proclamation attempted to satisfy the crown
The Proclamation granted the crown new territories of Quebec, East and West Florida, and Grenada. The four governments would form under the crown and become colonial territories. Governors were to be appointed as people representatives to govern the new regions. The King would be granted absolute dominion over those new territories. New colonies translated to more revenues and economic advantages to the royal crown.
The Royal proclamation granted the crown sovereign right to buy land from the First Nations. After the royal Proclamation, the crown could now deal and buy lands from indigenous people. “And, We do further strictly enjoin and require all Persons whatever who have either wilfully or inadvertently seated themselves upon any Lands within the Countries above described, or upon any other Lands which, not having been ceded to or purchased by Us, are still reserved to the said Indians as aforesaid, forthwith to remove themselves from such Settlements.”[3] Private people were prohibited from direct purchase of Aboriginal lands, leaving only the King and his heirs the purchase rights.
How the Royal Proclamation attempted to satisfy the indigenous people
The inhabitants of British colonies would foster public peace and good governance. The Royal proclamation recommended that laws could be ordained to govern the people in the British colonies. Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Grenada would enjoy administration led by Governors responsible for creating courts of Judicature and enforcing public justice in the colonies. Inhabitants of the colonies would also appeal sentences that aggrieved them. An administration to overlook peace and justice was formed in the new colonies.
Indigenous inhabitants of the three new territories were warranted security. The crown would provide the Royal declaration security of the people and their propriety through the respective government. No survey warrants or pass patents would be issued by the Governors or Commander in Chief to allow European settlers to pass the western boundaries.[4] Molesting and disturbance of the Indians living in the three newly established colonies was a rights violation according to the Royal Proclamation of 1763.
The crown promised first Nations land security. Lands west of the boundary were exclusively reserved only for Indians. Indians were allocated lands exclusive for hunting known as ‘hunting grounds. The proclamation line would defend Indians from settlers intrusion. The Royal Proclamation was the first to present Native Americans with the rights to lands and titles. Rights and land ownership granted First Nations self-determination to allocate and develop lands.
The soldiers in the army and the navy were rewarded vast pieces of land. Soldiers who had participated in the bloody war were granted large tracks of land in the three new territories.[5] For instance, every field officer would receive 5000 acres, Captain 3000 acres, Staff Officer 2000 acres, Non-Commission Officer 200 acres, and Private Man 50 acres. Indigenous veterans were awarded Grants to honor their participation and victory in the war.
Response to the Royal Proclamation of 1763 by colonists
Although the Proclamation was intended to lift the colonialists economically, the need and desire for more agricultural land made colonists resistant to the declaration. After the Royal Proclamation prohibited trade and migration with the west, the colonists felt England was extremely dominating and started a revolution. The colonists felt they deserved to settle in the land they had won after the bloody clash with the French and Indians.[6] The settlers convened and unitedly matched with their wagons toward Ohio Valley to prevent the British from enforcing the new law. The colonists were not satisfied with the Royal Proclamation as they felt it did not fully represent their needs.
Response to the Royal Proclamation of 1763 by indigenous people
The Indians were not satisfied by the proclamation line set as a boundary by the Royal Proclamation. The Royal Proclamation implied that the land, despite being handed over to the Indians, still belonged to the British government. Indians wanted an Indian country with clear boundaries. Since the colonists ignored the Proclamation and continued encroaching Indian lands, the conflict between Indians and settlers continued, with Indians killing more encroachers. [7]Indians’ dissatisfaction with the royal Proclamation resulted from colonists’ resistance and non-compliance to the Royal Proclamation.
Response to the Royal Proclamation of 1763 by The Crown
The crown feared that charged felons in the colonies would flee to seek refuge in the Indian territories. Convicted people could evade justice and trial in colonies by escaping in the new Indian territories. The Governors would grant survey warrants and pass patents to the west across the border exploiting the Royal Proclamation. King George 111 initially issued the Proclamation to avoid future conflicts between Native Americans and European colonists.[8] The colonists, however, blatantly decried the Proclamation, and the Proclamation gradually lost its purpose. Later in the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, the British government would resolve to move its borderline westward disregarding the Proclamation.
Conclusion
The Royal Proclamation was issued to tackle violence and revolts between indigenous people and Native Europeans in British colonies. Ottawa chief Pontiac led the rebellions against British rule by ambushing colonists. The Royal Proclamation fostered peace by preventing European expansion to the west. Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Grenada are the four territories acquired through the Definitive Treaty of Peace. The Royal Proclamation set governance of the four territories in the Royal Proclamation. The acquisition land was granted to the veterans who fought for Britain against France. The colonists opposed the Royal Proclamation and violated it, making it lose its’ value and purpose.
Bibliography
Bens, Jonas. “The Invention of the sovereignty approach to Indigenous Rights.” In The Indigenous Paradox, pp. 23-50. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020.
Bumsted, John Michael. Land, settlement, and politics on eighteenth-century Prince Edward Island. McGill-Queen’s Press-MQUP, 1987.
“The Royal Proclamation, 1763.” The Solon Law Archive. Accessed October 13, 2021. https://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/PreConfederation/rp_1763.html.
[1] Bens, Jonas. “The Invention of the sovereignty approach to Indigenous Rights.” In The Indigenous Paradox, pp. 23-50. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020.
[2] Bumsted, John Michael. Land, settlement, and politics on eighteenth-century Prince Edward Island. McGill-Queen’s Press-MQUP, 1987.
[3] “The Royal Proclamation, 1763.” The Solon Law Archive. Accessed October 13, 2021. https://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/PreConfederation/rp_1763.html.
[4] Bens, Jonas. “The Invention of the sovereignty approach to Indigenous Rights.” In The Indigenous Paradox, pp. 23-50. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020.
[5] Bumsted, John Michael. Land, settlement, and politics on eighteenth-century Prince Edward Island. McGill-Queen’s Press-MQUP, 1987.
[6] Bumsted, John Michael. Land, settlement, and politics on eighteenth-century Prince Edward Island. McGill-Queen’s Press-MQUP, 1987.
[7] Bens, Jonas. “The Invention of the sovereignty approach to Indigenous Rights.” In The Indigenous Paradox, pp. 23-50. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020.
[8] Bens, Jonas. “The Invention of the sovereignty approach to Indigenous Rights.” In The Indigenous Paradox, pp. 23-50. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020.