Final answer:
Colonists who crossed the Proclamation Line of 1763 would have been considered criminals under British law for defying a royal edict. They ignored the Proclamation because they saw the British rules as illegitimate and an infringement on their right to settle the land.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Proclamation Line of 1763 was established by the British government to prevent further conflict on the frontier and to protect the interests of Native Americans by forbidding White settlement west of a boundary along the Appalachian Mountains.
While the Proclamation aimed to forestall further conflict and save on the costs of defending the frontier, it resulted in dissatisfaction among colonists. Despite the intentions behind the creation of the Proclamation Line, colonists who crossed it in pursuit of westward expansion would have been considered in violation of British law.
At the time, this may have qualified them as criminals under British rule since they were defying a royal edict. However, from the perspective of the colonists, many viewed the British legislation as illegitimate and believed they had the right to settle the land, especially after their victories in the Seven Years' War.