(C&G 99) After the end of the French and Indian War, the British and the Americans decided to concentrate their efforts on expelling the Native Americans from the Appalachians so that could settle there. The Indians, however, would not willingly give up their territory. Pontiac, an Ottawa chief, led the Indian tribes in an attempt to push the settlers back over the mountains. Although Pontiac was unsuccessful, the English government passed the Proclamation of 1763, which made it illegal to settle lands west of the Appalachians. To the English this seemed like the perfect solution. The Proclamation not only prevented clashes between Americans and Indians, but also helped stop the expansion of the colonies, thus saving money that would have been spent on colonizing the territory. The closure of Appalachia aroused great resentment among Americans, but the Sugar Act still caused a stir