Final answer:
The decision to move west of the Appalachians was made by the settlers, driven by their desire for land and economic opportunities. They disregarded British restrictions, anticipating agricultural prospects and embodying the early American spirit of expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decision to move west of the Appalachians was ultimately made by the C) Settlers. After the French and Indian War, there was a significant appetite among British colonists to move westward. Land-hungry colonists and Virginians, including notables like George Washington, had been eyeing the newly available lands for their agricultural potential, especially as the tobacco economy in the Chesapeake area was in decline. Despite this, the British government issued the Proclamation Line of 1763, which officially prohibited settlement west of the Appalachians to avoid further conflicts with Native American tribes and control the expansionist ambitions of the colonists. However, many colonists disregarded this proclamation and moved west, seeking to fulfill their desire for land and economic opportunity. This movement laid the groundwork for what would later become a defining feature of American identity: the drive for westward expansion.