Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 3 September 1783
- Interestingly, Benjamin Franklin wanted the United States to annex parts of Canada (which was under British control), but this was not accepted. Britain gave many territories of North America, which were inhabited by the Indians, to the USA. Therefore, the Americans could increase their western territories, and repress the indigenous peoples.
The American War of Independence formally ended on this day in 1783.
It lasted eight years, four months, two weeks and one day. The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris on this day, by representatives of the United States of America and of Great Britain.
The Americans won the war, declared independence, and many territories were ceded to them.
The treaty was signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. Adams is also known for the 2008 American television miniseries (“John Adams”), with Paul Giamatti as John Adams (the series won 13 Emmy Awards, and became the most awarded miniseries).
Benjamin Franklin is known as a scientist and inventor (for example, the inventor of the lightning rods), and John Jay was the first President of the Supreme Court of the United States.
David Hartley also signed the treaty as “His Britannic Majesty’s Minister Plenipotentiary”. George III was the British king at the time, and Duke of Portland was his Prime Minister.
Four months later, William Pitt the Younger became the youngest British Prime Minister. The treaty was signed at the Hotel d’York (56 Rue Jacob) on this day (in the famous Saint-Germain-des-Prés Quarter).
Britain gave many territories of North America, which were inhabited by Indians (Native Americans), to the USA (the areas from the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes).
Namely, the Indians were the British allies against the Americans during the war. Therefore, the Americans could increase their western territories, and repress the indigenous peoples.
Interestingly, Benjamin Franklin wanted the USA to annex parts of Canada (which was under British control), but this wasn’t accepted.
Another consequence of the Treaty of Paris was the withdrawal of the British army from the territory of the United States. The last major British garrison was in New York, and left the country during the same year.
