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Difficulty: MediumThe Seven Years' War and Imperial Reorganization

"The Indians of the West... are all of the opinion that we mean to exterminate them, and that we have no other view in our present operations than to possess ourselves of their country... The French, who knew their disposition, and accommodated themselves to it, always treated them with respect and generosity... But since we have driven the French out, our behavior has been very different, and has convinced the Indians that they have nothing to expect from us but ruin."

— Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Northern Department, letter to the British Board of Trade, 1763

Which of the following British policy initiatives was most directly a response to the concerns described in the excerpt?

  1. The restriction of colonial settlement west of the Appalachian MountainsAnswer
  2. B
    The implementation of the Albany Plan of Union to consolidate frontier defense
  3. C
    The delegation of frontier defense and trade regulation to individual colonial assemblies
  4. D
    The total evacuation of British military outposts in the Ohio River Valley

Answer

The restriction of colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains
The correct answer is correct because Sir William Johnson's letter highlights Native American anxieties regarding British encroachment on their lands after the French defeat. In direct response to these concerns and the outbreak of Pontiac's Rebellion, the British government issued the Proclamation of 1763, which restricted colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent further costly frontier conflicts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context and main argument of the stimulus.
The excerpt is from Sir William Johnson in 1763, warning the British government about Native American anger following the French defeat in the Seven Years' War, noting that Native Americans feared British territorial expansion and preferred the French cooperative approach.
Understanding the source and context helps identify the specific historical problem (frontier conflict and Native American resistance, notably Pontiac's Rebellion) that the British government needed to address.
2
Connect the historical problem to the corresponding British policy response.
To prevent costly Indian wars like Pontiac's Rebellion, the British government issued the Proclamation of 1763.
This policy established a line along the Appalachian Mountains, forbidding colonial settlement to the west in order to stabilize the frontier.
3
Evaluate the options to find the one that matches this policy response.
The option stating 'The restriction of colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains' directly matches the Proclamation of 1763.
This matches the correct historical action taken by the British Crown in response to the native grievances described in the letter.

Key Concept

The transition from salutary neglect to active imperial control and the attempt to manage frontier conflict following the British victory in the Seven Years' War.
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Topics

The Seven Years' War and Imperial Reorganization

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