The Signing of the Treaty of Paris
As told by Barbara Rivera
On the third of September, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed. It was signed in the city of Paris, France and was the official end of all war between Britain and America. On this document, the United States was recognized as a nation.
Who is signing what?
Three American negotiators met with British representative, David Hartley, on September 3rd, 1783. The tree negotiators were all great American Patriots. They were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. All of their signatures are all on the last page of the Treaty document. They all actually signed the Treaty of Paris on September 3rd, 1783. the four men named the document for the city in which peace was negotiated and the treaty was signed.
New land for America
In the document, it recalls America as a separate nation. So that meant that America was not a part of the Great Britain anymore. The Treaty of Paris set boarders for the United States and territory of Britain .The new nation reached from Georgia to the Great Lakes. The Mississippi river formed a western boarder and the coast was the eastern boarder. '' the said United States, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and Independent States... ''.
Making peace happen
Peace talks between Britain and America have been around ever since the war ended, around April 1783. The three American representatives/negotiators played a big role in making peace happen. The Treaty of Paris guaranteed safety of the British when entering the new country. Even though the Treaty didn't become effective immediately, the British and Americans respected their new boarders and minded their own business.'' To forget all past Misunderstandings and Differences that have unhappily interrupted the good Correspondence and Friendship which they mutually wish to restore...''. On the next meeting of the Continental Congress, which was January 14th of 1784, they were going to ratify the Treaty of Paris. That's a long time!