The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was a landmark decree issued by King George III in response to the aftermath of the French and Indian War. This proclamation aimed to establish stabilizing measures for British territories in North America and sought to control settler expansion into Indigenous lands. Specifically, it prohibited white settlements in regions north and west of the Allegheny Mountains, which had been the site of increased tensions and violent engagements between settlers and Indigenous peoples. By delineating a border, the British Crown aimed to avoid further conflict and maintain peace with Native American nations, recognizing their land rights and sovereignty over these territories.

The proclamation established a framework for land transactions between settlers and Indigenous peoples. It mandated that all purchases of Native land be conducted only through the Crown, thereby reinforcing British authority in land management and curbing unauthorized settlements. This move was also a practical solution following the costly military engagements of the French and Indian War.

While the Royal Proclamation was intended to foster better relations and regulate land use in the colonies, it faced significant opposition from colonial settlers who desired westward expansion. Many settlers disregarded the boundaries set forth in the proclamation, leading to continuous conflict and encroachment on Indigenous lands, which would later contribute to a long history of disputes and treaties between the United States government and Indigenous nations.