Overview * Signed on September 3, 1783 * Ended Revolutionary War between the United States (and allies) and Great Britain * Other combatant nations such as France, Spain, and Dutch Republic had separate agreements
The Agreement * Peace negotiations began in April of 1782 * American representatives: Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, John Adams * British representatives: David Hartley & Richard Oswald * Treaty document was signed at the Hotel d’York which is now 56 Rue Jacob * Adams, Franklin, and Jay (US) and Hartley (British Parliament member representing King George III) signed * Franklin wanted Britain to hand over Canada to the US in case there is conflict in the future …show more content…
* Britain refused to do so * On September 3, Britain also signed agreements with France, Spain and Netherlands * Spain: East and West Florida; island of Minorca * Bahamas Islands, Grenada and Montserrat were returned to Brits (captured by French and Spanish) * French: Tobago, Senegal in Africa * Dutch: East Indies (treaty not finalized until 1794) * American Congress of the Confederation ratified the Treaty of Paris on Jan.
14 1784 (Ratification Day) * Copies were sent to Europe for the other parties involved: France-March, British-April 9 * Ratified versions were exchanged in Paris on May 12, 1784 * Americans did not receive the news until later due to the lack of fast communication
The Ten Articles: Key Points
1. Acknowledgement that the US is a free, sovereign and independent nation 2. Establish boundaries between US and British North America 3. Granted fishing rights to US in Grand Banks, coast of Newfoundland and in Gulf of Saint Lawrence 4. Debts have to be paid on both sides 5. Recognize loyalists and give back land 6. Prevent future confiscations of loyalist land 7. Prisoners of war be released 8. Both given perpetual access to Mississippi river 9. Territories captured by Americans will be returned 10. Ratification of the treaty was to occur within 6 months from the
signing
Consequences * British protection from pirates was withdrawn * Article 5 was ignored by individual states * Evaded article 6 * VA defied paying debt to Britain * Article 7 was ignored British soldier individuals about removal of slaves * A dispute occurred over the boundaries * The treaty specified a southern boundary for US * Separate anglo-spanish agreement did not specify a northern boundary for Florida * Spain used new control to block American access to Mississippi in defiance of article 8 * Jay treaty n 1794 settled the confiscated loyalist property * America’s ability to bargain was strengthened by the creation of the new constitution in 1787 * Only article 1 remains in force in 2012
http://www.lehrmaninstitute.org/history/treaty-of-paris.html check out: history.com