WI:No Proclamation of 1763

This particular decree of the British is often blamed for being a contributing factor to the American Revolution, but it did have importance in keeping conflict with American Indians down. So what might happen if Britain had effectively declared open season on the trans-Appalachian lands for any Americans to seize at their will?

There were plenty of Americans in the trans-Appalachian districts OTL (Watauga in Tennessee, for instance), so what if these settlements and such were legal and thus protected by the British? How might this affect the American Revolution as well as settlement of trans-Appalachia? Could there be a 14th colony (or more) organised from trans-Appalachian lands, or will the 13 colonies hold onto their land claims as they did post-Revolution? And if the American Revolution is delayed long enough, the people there will be pressing for control over the Mississippi, since that river is absolutely critical for the economy of the trans-Appalachian lands to function.
 
Definitely not an expert on this period, but I'd say that your predictions are largely correct: no Proclamation line would a) diffuse part of the tension that led to the Revolution, b) lead to the expansion of colonial territory to the trans-Appalachian region (I believe as extensions of the existing colonies rather than new colonies, at least initially), and c) lead to a clamor for British/Colonist control of the Mississippi and its trade.

It would also bring about severe conflict with the Natives. For instance, it would move up conflict with the Shawnee, Creek, Cherokee, and other Algonkian and Muskogean peoples by some 30-50 years from when they occurred OTL. Though it's possible that in this time line, these Native groups might receive more covert support from the French and possibly the Spanish.
 
Of course, with more Indian wars, that means Britain will want to make the colonists foot the bill for some of the protection, thus nullifying the advantage of not making the declaration.

There was the proposals of the colony Vandalia (mostly of nowadays West Virginia), for an attempt at making a landlocked 14th colony. I don't know if we'd be seeing a renewed attempt at it as well as attempts at organising something out of the Watauga Association or any other trans-Appalachian groups, so that might make further tension with the original Thirteen Colonies.
 
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