Question

One piece of legislation paved the way for the treaty process that would enable only the Crown to purchase land. This legislation is often called the "Magna Carta of Indian Rights." Which legislation is it?

A. Indian Act
B. Royal Proclamation of 1763
C. Gradual Civilization Act
D. Numbered Treaties

Answer 1

The "Magna Carta of Indian Rights" is the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which established that only the Crown could purchase lands from Indigenous Peoples and laid the groundwork for the treaty process and future land rights policies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The legislation often referred to as the "Magna Carta of Indian Rights" is the Royal Proclamation of 1763. This landmark legislation was issued by King George III following Great Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America after the Seven Years' War.

The Proclamation's primary intent was to stabilize the relationship between the British Crown and Indigenous Peoples by controlling the expansion of the colonies and by setting out guidelines for the Crown's acquisition of Indigenous lands, primarily stating that only the Crown could engage in land purchases from Indigenous groups.

This aimed to prevent private individuals from being able to buy lands directly from Indigenous Peoples, a practice that was later confirmed to be unlawful by the Supreme Court in the Johnson v. M'Intosh case of 1823. The Royal Proclamation thus paved the way for future treaties between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples and set a foundation for governmental policy regarding Indigenous land rights.