The Treaty of Paris

The American War for Independence (1775-83) was actually a world conflict, involving not only the United States and Great Britain but also France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The peace process brought a vaguely formed, newly born United States into the arena of international diplomacy, playing against the largest, most sophisticated, and most established powers on earth.

The treaty was named for the city in which it was negotiated and signed.


Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown in the Fall of 1781 and as a result marked the end of the Revolutionary War. And even though the United States had won her independence minor battles between the British and the colonists continued for another two years.

In February of 1783 George III issued his Proclamation of Cessation of Hostilities, culminating in the Peace Treaty of 1783. Signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, the agreement — also known as the Paris Peace Treaty — formally ended the United States War for Independence.

In addition to giving formal recognition to the U.S. and when it was all done the treaty: established U.S. boundaries, specified certain fishing rights, allowed creditors of each country to be paid by citizens of the other, restored the rights and property of Loyalists, opened up the Mississippi River to citizens of both nations and provided for evacuation of all British forces.

Representing the delegation from The United States were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, all of whom signed the treaty.