The british empire drove the french out of nearly all of north america with its victory in the seven years′ war, 1756–1763, also known as the french and indian war. tensions remained between the british and the american indians on the frontier following the war. as an attempt at compromise, the british government issued the proclamation of 1763, forbidding the settlement of british colonists west of the appalachian mountains. how did this proclamation contribute to colonial unrest leading up to the revolutionary war? colonists felt that the british had abandoned them in north america. colonists wanted to settle in the ohio valley and lands farther west. colonists were unhappy with british aggression toward american indians. colonists who had fought with the french were angry over their defeat.