Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the American War of Independence between Great Britain and their thirteen colonies in North-America. It was signed on September 3rd, 1783. There have also been other treatises with France and Spain that are known under the name Treaty of Versailles in 1783. Furthermore there are several other contracts that are known as Treaty of Paris.
The treaty had following conditions:
-The acceptance of the thirteen colonies as the independent United States of America.
-The localization of the boarders between the United States and British North-America.
-Fishing authorization for US-American fisher in the Grand Banks at the coast of Newfoundland and in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.
-The acceptance of the duty to pay valid dues on both sides.
-The Congress of the US recommends the legislative to help British citizens who were legal owners of confiscated land, to payback all estates, rights and possession.
-The US-Congress will avoid further confiscations.
-Every prisoner of war will be released and the equipment that has been left behind (including Negro slaves) will not be damaged.
-Great Britain and the United States have everlasting access to the Mississippi River.
-Territories that have been occupied by the US after the signing of the treaty will be given back without compensation.
-The treaty has to be ratified in six months time after the signing by either party.
The treaty had been signed by David Harley (member of the British parliament), John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay. The American Continental Congress ratified the treaty on January 14th, 1784. Britain`s ratification followed on April 9th. Both ratifications had been finally exchanged on May 12th in 1784.
Literature
Paris Peace Treaty of 1783. 13 Dec. 2009. <http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/paris/peace-treaty-1.html>
Treaty of Paris, 1783. 13 Dec. 2009 <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/ar/14313.htm>
Treaty of Paris (1783). 13 Dec. 2009 <http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_%281783%29>