In 1763, following the French and Indian War, King George III issued the Proclamation of 1763, which prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. The proclamation was intended to stabilize relations with Native Americans and avoid further frontier conflicts. However, it angered American colonists who had hoped to expand westward, contributing to the growing resentment against British rule. The proclamation was one of the many grievances that led to the American Revolution.

The Proclamation of 1763 is a significant event in the literature of the American Revolution, symbolizing the restriction of colonial freedom and the spark of rebellion. It appears in historical poetry and prose that examine the causes of the Revolution, often as an example of British tyranny. The proclamation is a backdrop for narratives that explore the theme of westward expansion and the American desire for independence.