Colonial America

:For colonies not among the 13 colonies see European colonization of the Americas or British colonization of the Americas.

From unity to revolution

The Royal Proclamation

The general sentiment of inequity that arose soon after the Treaty of Paris was solidified by the Royal Proclamation of 1763. This was a prohibition against settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, on land which had been recently captured from France. In issuing this decree, the government was no doubt influenced by disgruntled taxpayers (see "The French and Indian War," above) who did not wish to bankroll the subjugation of the native people of the area to make room for colonists. In fact, there was still land available east of the mountains; for instance, the valley of the Mohawk River in western New York would not be fully settled until decades later.

Related Topics:
Royal Proclamation of 1763 - Appalachian Mountains - France - Mohawk River - New York

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The colonists resented the measure. To many Americans, it seemed unnecessary and draconian, an unproductive piece of legislation mandated by a far-away government that cared little for their needs. The latter was a reasonable assertion, since none of the MP's were elected by colonists. Parliament had generally been preoccupied with affairs in Europe, and let the colonies govern themselves. It was no longer willing to do so. A series of measures resulting from this policy change would continue to arouse opposition in the colonies over the next thirteen years.

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• Sugar Act
• Stamp Act 1765
• Quartering Act
• Declaratory Act
• Townshend Revenue Act
• Tea Act
• The Intolerable Acts, also called Coercive or Punitive
• Quartering Act
• Quebec Act
• Massachusetts Government Act
• Administration of Justice Act
• Boston Port Act
• Prohibitory Act