What advantages did the British hope to gain by limiting westward settlement in 1763?
1 Answer
Peaceful relationships with the tribes of the Ohio Valley and profits from the fur trade.
Explanation:
The Indians had fought with the French in a large degree because of the westward movement of American colonists. The settlement of the colonist threatened the way of life of the Indian tribes. The British wanted peace with the tribes, so wanted to prevent conflict by prohibiting western settlements.
When the British took over Canada from the French the British also took over the profitable fur trade with the tribes. Western settlement threaten the profitable fur trade. The British wanted to keep the profits from the fur trade.
Also if the colonies could not settle in the West the Crown could take control of the land west of the mountains. This land was potentially very valuable and England did not want to share with the colonies.
Preventing the American Colonists from settling west of the Mountains, prevented a possible war with the powerful tribes of the Ohio Valley. Preventing American Colonist was to the economic benefit of England in the present fur trade and future development of the vast lands of the Ohio Valley.
