The Royal Proclamation of 1763

This article explores the significance of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 in Canada and its impact on the Indigenous population. It discusses the historical context, treaties, and the modern relevance of the proclamation.

Running head: THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1
THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
Part 1. Introduction
The first imperial constitutional instrument in Canada is the Royal Proclamation of 1763
that included the French people of Canada, the British and the indigenous people. The royal
proclamation is a document that includes the guidelines for European settlement in the
Aboriginals territories that is now known as North America. The relation between the crown and
indigenous people was primarily driven by the Royal Proclamation of October 1763. It was
through the introduction of the Royal Proclamation that initiated royal instructions, formalization
of policies and relationships. The first nation’s people faced threats in regard to their land when
the military and economic alliances between First nation people and the crown lead to increased
demand for land. The land became the most demanded resources for it during that time as it
would let the westward settle to the First Nation's land. The royal proclamation officially claimed
British territory in the areas of aboriginals after the Seven Years War that was won by the
British. Although it was in the 18th century, importance is held by the royal proclamation of
1763 implies even today. The paper aims to focus on understanding the Royal Proclamation of
1763 and the significance that lies with it in the contemporary era. The paper focus on the several
importance of Royal proclaims including the fact that it let the British to legally settle in Canada
and made illegal for settlers to claim land belonging to indigenous people without purchasing
from the crown. Although the proclamation had little benefit it also had some negative impacts
on the society that is seen today.
Part 2. Evidence
Primary Source: Ladner, Kiera L., and Michael McCrossan. "Whose Shared
History?." Labour/Le Travail 73, no. 1 (2014): 200-202.

2
THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
In this article, the author highlights the 2008 speech by the then Prime Minister Stephen
Harper where he had apologized to the former Indian students of the Indian residential schools
who had to face racism. He had laid stress on a “new beginning based upon the shared history”
of Canada. While analyzing the speech, the author finds that the Prime Minister had missed put
on an important aspect of Canada’s history, The Royal Proclamation of 1763 and ultimately the
rights of the Indigenous population. The author also brings to light the claims made by the Prime
Minister regarding the history of the country stating it to be the culmination of “two major
cultures”. Here, the author states that the Prime Minister failed to “acknowledge the multiplicity
of Indigenous nations whose territories Canada now claims as its own”.
In Canada, the two events that are majorly celebrated include the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee and the War of 1812. The author also highlights the significance of the Royal
Proclamation stating that it could not be viewed as a separated event but a culmination of the
events that commenced after the Treaty of Niagara that allowed more than two thousand leaders
of the Indigenous community to represent and share the selective lands. Lastly, the author
suggests that The Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the Treaty of Niagara had been instrumental
in putting forth a “Canada that must be remembered”.
As evident from the article, The Royal Proclamation of 1763 had immense contribution
in the formation of the new nation, which Canada is at present. The event must be
acknowledged, appreciated and commemorated as this would suggest that the leaders of this
country are truly aware of the “shared history”.

3
THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
Mann, Jatinder. "Keeping Promises: The Royal Proclamation of 1763, Aboriginal Rights,
and Treaties in Canada ed. by Terry Fenge and Jim Aldridge." British Journal of
Canadian Studies 30, no. 2 (2017): 263.
Mann’s article provides a thorough discussion of the book authored by Fenge and
Aldridge, where the authors emphasize the importance of The Royal Proclamation of 1763. The
author states that it is not just as a historical artifact but also an important document that
influences relations and treaties between the state and the Indigenous groups even today. With a
view to understanding this statement, the author analyzes the book’s contents focusing on The
Royal Proclamation its subsequent effects.
In this article, Mann includes two chapters from the book, one by Brian Slattery and the
other by Terry Fenge. The author finds that Slattery’s account of the Proclamation “adroitly
outlines the origins of the Royal Proclamation” and that the key theme of it was the Proclamation
asking the Crown to deal “honorably” with the Indigenous nations. On the other hand, Fenge
delves in the more modern issues related to dealing with the Indigenous people and the influence
of the Royal Proclamation on the modern policies. The author finds that Fenge had criticized the
Canadian government of not respecting the Proclamation while signing the Land Agreements
with the Indigenous nations.
In both the analyses, Mann clearly demonstrates the importance of The Royal
Proclamation of 1763 and its relevance even today especially for the Aboriginal or First Nations
people. However, as evident from the analyses by the author, Canada has not done justice to The
Royal Proclamation. The author is right because although The Royal Proclamation of 1763
upholds the sovereignty and identity of the Indigenous nations, it has not been acknowledge

4
THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
entirely by the country. Awareness about the Proclamation has to be done to let the new
generation understand its importance.
Munro, Ken. "The Proclamation of 1763: Britain's Approach to Governing in the New
World." LawNow 38 (2013): 21.
The article discussed ways Britain gained victory with the treaty of Paris of 1763 not only
in North America but also across the world. The dominance of the British in North America
created new problems however it was resolved by the Royal Proclamation of 1763. The article
discussed the way British succeeded in its imperial intention of gaining power over the lands in
North America in between the war. Although both sides were supported by the Aboriginal allies,
when the French lost, the First nation lost their bargaining position. It showed the ways British
were aware of the demand of the land that they would need for their colonies and they corrected
the situation with many proclamations. The offer was too less by British to the First Nation for
their land in the beginning, under the proclamation, the first Nation’s grievances were addressed.
The treaty was recognized as a ‘dead document’ unable to solve the First nation’s issue it helped
in various ways. however, since the proclamation met with strong opposition from both outside
as well as inside the First Nation’s community, it is highly controversial and has a strong
existence yet today.
Munro’s article on the Proclamation of 1763 which discusses Britain’s approach in regard
to the British’s approach to the new world. The detailed explanation of the reasons that led to the
introduction of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 is the writer made easy to understand the
purpose of the article. The writer made justice to the title it reflected on the way Britain made its
way to conquering the land of First Nation as well as a victory across the world.

5
THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
Reid, John. "The significance of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 for Atlantic Canada."
(2013).
The famous Royal Proclamation has now become more than 250 years old however, the
impactful treaty still remains significant in the contemporary era. The article discusses the ways
proclamation had redrawn the imperial political geography. The implication of the rules as per
the treaty varied when the compared physically and geographically. The significance of the
proclamation, according to Reid is the way it redrew the imperial geography. It expanded from
the mentioned areas to the areas that were levelled for the indigenous people of the territory. It
discussed the importance of the proclamation at the beginning which was related to the British
and the French and not the indigenous people. Although the treaty considered the grievances of
the aboriginals, according to the history it is highly complicated to know as there are severely
less beneficial for the indigenous people at present. Therefore, the significance of the treaty is the
way it impacts the lives of indigenous people in contemporary times.
The article has explicitly discusses the inter-related concepts involved in the treaty.
According to Reid the impact of the royal proclamation on today’s population of Canada. The
effect of proclamation is of little help that happened 250 years ago was of little help however, the
impact has a tremendous effect on the Canadian population until today. Therefore, the article
helped to understand that the things that happen on the ground long ago were ambiguous and
complex.
Conclusion
The academic contribution of Ken Munro, John Reid, including the primary contribution
of Kiera L. Ladner and Michael McCrossan, and Jatinder Mann demonstrate that The Royal

6
THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
Proclamation of 1763 has much significance although it had some negative aspects as well. The
essay was aimed at providing arguments on both positive and negative influences of the
Proclamation. The sources for this assignment were carefully chosen in order to clearly establish
the positive and negative influences of the Proclamation. While Munro and Reid argued, that The
Royal Proclamation of 1763 took away the sovereign right of the Indigenous people over their
own land, Ladner and McCrossan, and Mann stated otherwise. According to them, The Royal
Proclamation of 1763 provided some acknowledgement for the Indigenous nations who had lost
their lands to the colonial powers. The Proclamation asked for respecting the Indigenous nations
and their lands.

7
THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF 1763
Bibliography:
Ladner, Kiera L., and Michael McCrossan. "Whose Shared History?." Labour/Le Travail 73, no.
1 (2014): 200-202.
Mann, Jatinder. "Keeping Promises: The Royal Proclamation of 1763, Aboriginal Rights, and
Treaties in Canada ed. by Terry Fenge and Jim Aldridge." British Journal of Canadian Studies
30, no. 2 (2017): 263.
Munro, Ken. "The Proclamation of 1763: Britain's Approach to Governing in the New World."
LawNow 38 (2013): 21.
Reid, John. "The significance of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 for Atlantic Canada." (2013).