Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What was the significance of the Proclamation of 1763?

1. To ban trade with Native Americans

2. To restrict settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains

3. To promote Western expansion

4. To end the American Revolutionary War

The correct answer is: To restrict settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains

The significance of the Proclamation of 1763 primarily lies in its restriction of settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. This was a key response by the British government to stabilize relations with Native American tribes after the French and Indian War. The proclamation aimed to prevent conflicts between settlers and Indigenous peoples by prohibiting colonial expansion into these lands. The intention was to create a buffer zone and maintain peace in the newly acquired territories. By restricting settlement, the British government hoped to manage colonial growth and limit potential hostilities that could arise from the encroachment of settlers onto Native American lands. This policy, however, was met with frustration among colonists who had hoped to expand westward, ultimately contributing to rising tensions between the colonies and Britain. Such tensions played a crucial role in the events leading up to the American Revolution, as colonists increasingly perceived the British authority as overreaching and unsympathetic to their aspirations for land and autonomy.