The Treaty of Paris
Turning Point in History
What Is a Treaty?
What do you think happens when a war ends? Do the soldiers just lay down their
weapons and go home? Do the generals merely leave the field of battle and return to
the lives they led before the war? Do the two sides just stop fighting?
As you might imagine, the conclusion of a war is more involved than this. When two
sides in a conflict have lost soldiers on the battlefield and spent large amounts of
money to fight the war, they want a formal end. The two sides must sit down and
negotiate the terms of peace. This means that they write down exactly how the
countries or groups involved will change as a result of the war. The document that
lists these points is called a treaty.
The most important part of a
treaty focuses on the main reason
the war was fought. If it was over
land, the treaty will describe
exactly how national boundaries
will change as a result of the war.
If it was a war over a concept such
as freedom or slavery, the treaty
will state how the two sides will
approach the issue in the future.
Of course, the winning side often
gets to dictate, or decide, the
terms of peace. The victors may
also demand some financial
payments from the defeated side.
This drawing shows the signing of the preliminary
peace treaty between Great Britain and the United
States in November of 1782. American peace
commissioners John Jay and Benjamin Franklin
are standing at the left.
Between War and Peace
The Revolutionary War ended
with the Battle of Yorktown, which concluded on October 19, 1781, when the British
surrendered to the Americans. Although military actions virtually ceased at this time,
the treaty ending the war was not signed until September 3, 1783—nearly two years
later. Why did it take so long to sign a peace treaty to end a war that had actually
stopped two years before?
Drawing up the terms of peace is never an easy matter. In most cases, several
countries or groups are involved. The Revolutionary War was no different. Great
Britain and the colonies were only two of the players. France and Spain also took
part in the conflict. They, too, had to be included in the peace negotiations. In fact,
the Treaty of Paris was only one of the treaties that formally ended the Revolutionary
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The Treaty of Paris
Turning Point in History
War. There were actually three treaties signed on September 3: one between Great
Britain and the new United States (called the Treaty of Paris), one between Great
Britain and France, and one between Great Britain and Spain. The three treaties
together are called the Peace of Paris.
The negotiations of the Treaty of Paris were also delayed by the unwillingness of
Great Britain’s leaders to concede that the war was lost. Benjamin Franklin was one
of the American diplomats who helped craft the peace terms. In writing to General
George Washington following the American victory at Yorktown, Franklin noted
that, “The English seem not to know either how to continue the War or to make
Peace with us.”
Finally, it is important to remember that the representatives of the four countries
had to discuss terms of the treaty with leaders in their home countries. Because all
communication was done by letter in those days, that meant long weeks of delay. For
the Americans, letters had to cross the Atlantic Ocean, a distance of about 3,000
miles. Benjamin Franklin described the communication difficulties in a 1782 letter to
Robert Livingston, the U.S. Secretary of Foreign Affairs:
We are far from the Seaports, not well informed and often misinformed
about the sailing of Vessels. Frequently we are told they are to sail in a
Week or two, and often they lie in Port for Months after with our Letters on
board, either waiting for Convoy or for other Reasons. The Post Office here
is an unsafe Conveyance. Many of the Letters we receive by it have
evidently been opened and doubtless the same happens to those we send. . .
Hammering Out the Terms of the Peace
Formal talks between the British and the Americans began in September 1782.
Representing the Americans were Patriots John Adams, John Jay, and Benjamin
Franklin. They were later joined by Henry Laurens, who had served as president of
the Continental Congress and been imprisoned in the Tower of London for his role in
the American Revolution.
These men were highly capable negotiators, for they won terms that were quite
favorable for the United States. Of course, these terms were also won because the
British had lost the war, giving the Americans the upper hand in any negotiations.
The British cause was hurt by its complicated foreign affairs. At the time of the peace
talks, Great Britain had conflicts with not only the United States, but also France,
Spain, and the Netherlands. British eagerness to end these conflicts also gave the
Americans an advantage in the negotiations.
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The Treaty of Paris
Turning Point in History
One of the key points to settle was the issue of American independence. The British
did not want this to be a part of the peace settlement. The Americans, of course,
insisted upon it. Independence had become the American goal early in the conflict.
The British proposed early on in the talks that the United States remain a part of the
British Empire. Benjamin Franklin rejected this idea quickly.
For his part, Franklin demanded that Great Britain give the United States its
Canadian territories. In truth, Franklin realized that the British were not likely to
give in to this demand. However, the Americans wanted to win the territory past the
borders of the present colonies, all the way to the Mississippi River to the west. By
demanding Canada and then conceding that point to the British, they hoped to still
win by enlarging the present boundaries of the country.
Both sides had other goals, however. The Americans wanted to secure fishing rights
off the coast of Newfoundland as well as access to the Mississippi River. Both points
were seen as essential to the economic success of the new nation. The British were
concerned about money the United States owed British creditors from before the
war. They also wanted to ensure that property that had been taken from British
Loyalists during the war would be restored.
The Final Treaty
While the Americans were negotiating with the British, so too were the French and
Spanish. The various countries had differing goals, and each attempted to influence
the peace talks to meet their own interests. Progress was slow. In addition to the
communication delays, leadership in some countries changed. There were also spies
who intercepted letters and passed the information along to key players in the
process. The entire undertaking was filled with suspense and tension.
Toward the end of 1782, the British finally agreed to recognize the independence of
the United States. With that major point settled, discussions began on issues of
national boundaries, fishing rights, and debts. These discussions went back and forth
for many more months, until the peace terms were settled in September 1783.
The final treaty began with the statement that it was the intention of both the United
States and Great Britain “to forget all past misunderstandings and differences that
have unhappily interrupted the good correspondence and friendship which they
mutually wish to restore.”
In addition to the recognition of American independence, the western boundary of
the United States was set at the Mississippi River. This was another major victory for
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The Treaty of Paris
Turning Point in History
the Americans. Canada, as Franklin had guessed, remained a British territory. The
American team also won a guarantee of access to the Newfoundland fisheries, and it
was agreed that navigation on the Mississippi River would be open to both Great
Britain and the United States. As to money matters, both sides would be allowed to
collect any debts from before the war. The Treaty of Paris was signed by Franklin,
Jay, and Adams. Laurens fell ill and returned to the United States before the final
treaty was drafted. David Hartley signed for the British.
The U.S. Continental Congress ratified the treaty on January 14, 1784, more than two
years after soldiers had laid down their weapons. The long quest for independence,
begun in 1775 at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, had finally ended.
After reading the passage, answer the following questions:
1. What is the name for a document that describes the terms of peace
following a war?
A. constitution
B. treaty
C. declaration
D. settlement
2. A major obstacle to the peace process following the American Revolution
was
A. lack of funds for travel
B. continued fighting in the colonies
C. slow communications
D. rejection of the peace terms by the Continental Congress
3. According to the terms agreed upon in the Treaty of Paris, who was allowed
to use the Mississippi River for navigation?
A. only the United States
B. the United States and Great Britain
C. the United States and France
D. Great Britain and France
4. The Americans had several goals they wished to accomplish in the Paris
talks. What goals did the United States accomplish, and why were these
talks so important for the young country? Use details from the reading
passage to support your answer.
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