Proclamation Of 1763 Analysis

After the French and Indian War, the relationship between American colonists and the British quickly worsened. The deteriorating relationship eventually led to the American revolution, in which the colonists claimed their independence and formed a new nation. The Colonist’s desire to separate was not due to a single cause, but various factors such as geography, economics, public policy, and acts of violence. As a direct result of the French and Indian War, Britain gained a vast amount of territory. However due to perceived Indian threats and Britain’s desire to tighten its’ control over America, Parliament issued the Proclamation of 1763. The Proclamation of 1763 entailed two main requirements; first, the Native Americans, by treaty, had

As a result, colonists printed and used their own currency instead of Britain’s. However, as a response, the Parliament passed the currency act, which forbade colonists from the production and usage of their own currency. Expectedly, colonists were outraged and “many Americans interpreted the British government's interference as an infringement of their right to self-government.” Although colonists were not plausible in their belief that their rights had been violated, but nonetheless Britain has cut off yet another way for the colonists to relieve their economic burden and created more hardships and struggles for the colonists. The Currency Act proved to be hindrance, mainly because colonial demand for currency was high due to usage of currency in order to conduct trade. And Britain’s very limited issuing of currency thrwated colonist’s effort to profit. Colonists’ inability to profit on top of the fact that they are taxed heavily and banned from expanding westwards, burdened the colonial economy and pushed colonists to believe that they are treated as less important than British citizen. Therefore, the Currency Act, strengthened colonists initial desire to move away from its mother country and towards

“The act placed a tax on newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets and broadsides, legal documents of all kinds, insurance policies, ship's papers, licenses, and even playing cards and dice.” By taxing any form of document or paper, the Parliament caused colonists great inconveniences and complicated the processes for many documentations. Colonists were angered by Britain's attempt to benefit themselves while hurting the colonial economy. To further demonstrate their greed, Britain also taxed non-legal document related items such as dice and playing cards. Colonists view this as the Parliament abusing their pair and treating colonists unfairly because colonists had no say in this act. Britain however, expected compliance from the colonists since they believed that colonists led a wealthy and comfortable life. This was in fact false, “While fighting in America in the French and Indian War, British soldiers had been entertained by wealthy colonials. From this, the soldiers had gotten the impression that all Americans were wealthy.” Also, at the time, the many colonists were tortured by a smallpox epidemic. Consequently, colonists believed that the Crown, someone that is ignorant and lacked sympathy for its own people, is willing take advantage of the colonists at a time of great economic hardship and deadly epidemic, in order to benefit British soldiers and citizens. Which