II.

Background

While it was necessary for King George III of England to establish boundaries and governments for Britain’s new colonies, Britain also sought to appease the Indians by setting aside land for them through the proclamation. During the French and Indian War many Indian nations fought on the French side, and months after defeating France, Britain faced an armed Indian resistance led by Ottawa chief Pontiac south of the Great Lakes. Pontiac organized attacks on British forts in the region to drive the British from their frontier possessions and to reestablish Indian autonomy. The British were unable to crush the uprising until 1765, after some 2,000 British soldiers, traders, and settlers had been killed.