Treaty+of+Paris

By: Amanda Mancuso



The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3rd, 1783 at the [|Hotel d’York in Paris, France]. It brought the American Revolutionary War to a close, creating a pact between Great Britain and the United States of America. This decisive document was signed by reps from both parties. [|John Adams], [|Benjamin Franklin], and [|John Jay]representing the United States, and [|David Hartley], a member of the British Parliament, on behalf of the British Monarch, King George III. Through this agreement, the United States of America was recognized as an independent nation, free of ties to Great Britain. The treaty had also established [|new borders]for the United States, which were as follows; all land from the Great Lakes on the north to Florida on the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River would be American territory.

It was promised that all British troops stationed in American territory would be evacuated “as soon as possible”. The use of such a loosely interpreted phrase, gave the already dissatisfied Great Britain ability to do so whenever they saw fit. Therefore, Britain took its time in [|removing its forces]. Not until twenty years later would they actually come through with their word.

The United States had righteously settled all existing debts which it owed to Great Britain. It also agreed not to maltreat [|loyalists] who were in America and to allow those that left during the war to come back. The purpose of the [|Treaty of Paris] was to evoke peace between Great Britain and the United States of America. This treaty would signify the conclusion of the [|American Revolutionary War]. The Americans had achieved their goal, freedom was won.

CHECK OUT THE DOCUMENT, [|HERE]!



John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, and diplomat. As a Founding Father of the United States, he served as President of the [|Continental Congress] from 1778 to 1779. Jay was very involved in the American Revolution. He was an ambassador to Spain and France, helping to develop United States foreign policy, and to secure advantageous peaceful relations with other nations. Also, he wrote [|Jay's Treaty of 1794], which had allowed peace terms with Great Britain. John Jay, a supporter of strong, unified government, drafted the [|Federalist Papers], with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. Jay was leader of the Federalist Party when he became the [|Governor of New York] in 1795. During his six-year term, he was the state's leading opponent of slavery. His initial attempts to free all slaves in New York failed both in 1777 and in 1785, but in 1799, on his third try, he had accomplished his mission of freeing slaves. [|The Gradual Emancipation Act] of 1799 had eventually brought about the emancipation of all slaves there before John Jay’s death in 1829.

John Adams was a lawyer, statesman, diplomat and [|political theorist]. He was the second President of the United States. Adams became very involved in leading the American Revolution, alongside fellow Founding Fathers, such as Jay and Franklin. In colonial America, he worked hard and earned a prominent reputation as a lawyer and public figure in [|Boston].

Adams was also a delegate from Massachusetts of the Continental Congress. As a delegate, he was involved in persuading Congress to declare independence. John Adams chose Thomas Jefferson to draft the [|Declaration of Independence]and aided him in writing the important document.

As an American representative, Adams was a key negotiator of the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain. In addition, he helped to write the [|Massachusetts state constitution] in 1780 which led to the end of slavery in Massachusetts.

John Adams’ achievements have been recognized more greatly in recent times than in his own days, when [|his contributions] had not been as celebrated as those of other Founders of the U.S.

Benjamin Franklin was also one of the [|Founding Fathers of the United States]. Franklin had a myriad of job titles, including: an author, printer, political theorist, politician , postmaster , scientist, musician, inventor, [|satirist] , civic activist, statesman, and [|diplomat]. He created America’s first library and the first fire department in the State of Pennsylvania.

Franklin was dubbed the nickname, "The First American", for his determination in campaigning for [|colonial unity]. He was a spokesman in London for the American colonies and the first [|United States Ambassador to France].

His impressive life achievements have made him one of America's most influential Founding Fathers.

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This painting of the Treaty of Paris, by Benjamin West, was not finished because the British refused to pose. However, a United States commemorative Bicentennial stamp depicted a more completed portrayl of the event.

**[|The Ten Articles of the Treaty of Paris]**

//Declares the treaty to be "in the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity," states the bona fides of the signatories, and declares the intention of both parties to "forget all past misunderstandings and differences" and "secure to both perpetual peace and harmony."//
 * 1) Acknowledging the United States to be free, sovereign and independent states, and that the British Crown and all heirs and successors relinquish claims to the Government, propriety, and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof;
 * 2) Establishing the boundaries between the United States and British North America;
 * 3) Granting fishing rights to United States fishermen in the Grand Banks, off the coast of Newfoundland and in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence;
 * 4) Recognizing the lawful contracted debts to be paid to creditors on either side;
 * 5) The Congress of the Confederation will "earnestly recommend" to state legislatures to recognize the rightful owners of all confiscated lands "provide for the restitution of all estates, rights, and properties, which have been confiscated belonging to real British subjects [Loyalists]";
 * 6) United States will prevent future confiscations of the property of Loyalists;
 * 7) Prisoners of war on both sides are to be released and all property left by the British army in the United States unmolested (including slaves);
 * 8) Great Britain and the United States were each to be given perpetual access to the Mississippi River;
 * 9) Territories captured by Americans subsequent to treaty will be returned without compensation;
 * 10) Ratification of the treaty was to occur within six months from the signing by the contracting parties.

//Spain received East and West Florida under the separate Anglo-Spanish peace agreement.//

Article 1 is the only article which remains inforced today, in 2011.