Video: '3rd September 1783: Treaty of Paris ends the American Revolutionary War'

(Saturday, November 30, 1782, during the American Revolutionary War, part of the Atlantic Revolutions, American Revolution) — The preliminary Treaty of Paris was signed today in Paris, bringing the hostilities of the American Revolution between the United States and Great Britain to a close.

The British government had become more disposed to achieving peace with the Americans after the surrender of General Charles Lord Cornwallis in Oct. 1781 and the loss of several of its possessions to France and Spain. Peace negotiations began in Paris in Apr. 1782 and continued through the summer.

The preliminary Treaty of Paris recognized the United States and established its boundaries, roughly being from the Mississippi to the Atlantic and from the Great Lakes to Florida. It also granted the U.S. the right to fish off Newfoundland and granted both Britain and the U.S. the right to use the Mississippi River.

Congress was to “earnestly recommend” to the states that they refund any property taken from Loyalists during the war and creditors on both sides were given full rights to recover all debts. Prisoners were to be released on both sides and all American property was to be left undamaged by British troops when they left.

The preliminary Treaty of Paris would be ratified by Parliament on January 20, 1783, and by Congress on April 15.

A ceasefire would be declared by Britain on February 4 and by America on April 11.

The final official Treaty of Paris would be signed by the commissioners on September 3, 1783, ratified by Congress on January 14, 1784, and by Great Britain on April 9, 1784.

The ratified documents were exchanged once and for all in Paris on May 12, 1784, bringing the American Revolution to an end.