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The American Revolutionary War formally concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783. This historic event involved representatives from the United States, Great Britain, Spain, and France. The signing of the treaty was a momentous occasion that symbolized America's newfound status as an independent nation. It marked the official recognition of American sovereignty by Great Britain, signifying the end of colonial rule.
The Treaty of Paris also delineated the boundaries of the newly formed United States. According to its provisions, the country's territory stretched from Florida in the south to the Great Lakes in the north, and from the Atlantic coast in the east to the Mississippi River in the west.
The road to this treaty was a lengthy one, beginning with the events of April 1775 when American colonists, dissatisfied with King George III's refusal to grant them political and economic reforms, took up arms in Lexington, Massachusetts. Over a year later, on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. The subsequent five years of conflict culminated in October 1781 when British General Charles Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, marking the end of the Revolution's major battles.
In September 1782, negotiations for peace commenced with Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay leading the American delegation. Initially, a five-person committee, including Thomas Jefferson and Henry Laurens, had been designated by the Continental Congress for the task. However, unforeseen circumstances led to Jefferson's travel delays and Laurens' capture by the British, who detained him in the Tower of London. Consequently, the American delegation, harboring suspicions about the French, opted to negotiate independently with the British.
During these negotiations, Franklin pressed for the cession of Canada to the United States, although this demand went unmet. Nevertheless, the United States did acquire additional territory south of the Canadian border, effectively doubling its landmass. The treaty also secured essential fishing rights in Canadian waters and addressed various other matters, including the commitment not to obstruct British creditors' attempts to recover debts owed to them.
In November 1782, after months of negotiations and detailed deliberations, the United States and Britain signed the preliminary articles of the treaty. France followed suit by signing its own preliminary peace agreement with Britain on January 20, 1783. Finally, in September of that same year, the formal and comprehensive Treaty of Paris was signed by all three nations, and Spain, a party to the treaty, joined in.
The Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris on January 14, 1784, cementing its place in history as the pivotal document that concluded the American Revolutionary War and established the United States as an independent and sovereign nation.
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