I was remiss in not pointing out yesterday that on Jan. 14, 1784, the Congress of the Confederation (the governing body of the United States under the Articles of Confederation, before the adoption of the US Constitution), approved the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War.
The treaty had been signed at the Hotel d'York, in Paris, on September 3, 1783. Signing for the United States were John Adams, Ben Franklin, and John Jay. Signing for Great Britain was David Hartley.
The treaty had some intrigue, as much earlier during the conflict, the US had signed a pact with France (as part of their backing the US), that neither party would hold peace negotiations with Great Britain without the other. However, after the victory at Yorktown, on Oct. 19, 1781, Great Britain, France, the United State, and Spain had conflicting interests, Spain refused to enter into any peace negotiations until they captured Gibraltar. The French, who wanted a quick resolution as their treasuries were empty, had proposed that the United States get the area east of the Appalachian Mountains, the British would get the area north of the Ohio River, and the area south of the Ohio River, west of the Appalachian Mountains, and South of the state of Georgia which would be an independent Indian barrier state controlled by Spain.
The British were also anxious for a speedy resolution, and also feared that the French would supplant them as the main trader with the United States. They made direct overtures to the US peace negotiators which convinced the negotiators that they could get a better deal if they dealt directly (though in violation of their earlier pact with France) with the British. In the end, the US did complete their own deal, though the French became aware of the negotiations and they, along with Spain, also conducted negotiations with the British that did not include the Americans.
I always found the opening lines of the Treaty of Paris rather amusing. They read:
In the Name of the most Holy & undivided Trinity.
It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the Hearts of the most Serene and most Potent Prince George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg, Arch- Treasurer and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire etc.. and of the United States of America, to forget all past Misunderstandings and Differences that have unhappily interrupted the good Correspondence and Friendship which they mutually wish to restore; and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory Intercourse between the two countries upon the ground of reciprocal Advantages and mutual Convenience as may promote and secure to both perpetual Peace and Harmony; and having for this desirable End already laid the Foundation of Peace & Reconciliation by the Provisional Articles signed at Paris on the 30th of November 1782, by the Commissioners empowered on each Part, which Articles were agreed to be inserted in and constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which Treaty was not to be concluded until Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain & France, and his Britannic Majesty should be ready to conclude such Treaty accordingly: and the treaty between Great Britain & France having since been concluded, his Britannic Majesty & the United States of America, in Order to carry into full Effect the Provisional Articles above mentioned, according to the Tenor thereof, have constituted & appointed, that is to say his Britannic Majesty on his Part, David Hartley, Esqr., Member of the Parliament of Great Britain, and the said United States on their Part, - John Adams, Esqr., late a Commissioner of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles, late Delegate in Congress from the State of Massachusetts, and Chief Justice of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary of the said United States to their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin, Esqr., late Delegate in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania, President of the Convention of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the Court of Versailles; John Jay, Esqr., late President of Congress and Chief Justice of the state of New York, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the said United States at the Court of Madrid; to be Plenipotentiaries for the concluding and signing the Present Definitive Treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their respective full Powers have agreed upon and confirmed the following Articles.
There were 10 articles in the Treaty.
Historians have concluded that the Americans did very well in their negotiations for the Treaty of Paris.
The below tweet has the signatures of David Hartley, and the three American negotiators.
The treaty had been signed at the Hotel d'York, in Paris, on September 3, 1783. Signing for the United States were John Adams, Ben Franklin, and John Jay. Signing for Great Britain was David Hartley.
The treaty had some intrigue, as much earlier during the conflict, the US had signed a pact with France (as part of their backing the US), that neither party would hold peace negotiations with Great Britain without the other. However, after the victory at Yorktown, on Oct. 19, 1781, Great Britain, France, the United State, and Spain had conflicting interests, Spain refused to enter into any peace negotiations until they captured Gibraltar. The French, who wanted a quick resolution as their treasuries were empty, had proposed that the United States get the area east of the Appalachian Mountains, the British would get the area north of the Ohio River, and the area south of the Ohio River, west of the Appalachian Mountains, and South of the state of Georgia which would be an independent Indian barrier state controlled by Spain.
The British were also anxious for a speedy resolution, and also feared that the French would supplant them as the main trader with the United States. They made direct overtures to the US peace negotiators which convinced the negotiators that they could get a better deal if they dealt directly (though in violation of their earlier pact with France) with the British. In the end, the US did complete their own deal, though the French became aware of the negotiations and they, along with Spain, also conducted negotiations with the British that did not include the Americans.
I always found the opening lines of the Treaty of Paris rather amusing. They read:
In the Name of the most Holy & undivided Trinity.
It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the Hearts of the most Serene and most Potent Prince George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg, Arch- Treasurer and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire etc.. and of the United States of America, to forget all past Misunderstandings and Differences that have unhappily interrupted the good Correspondence and Friendship which they mutually wish to restore; and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory Intercourse between the two countries upon the ground of reciprocal Advantages and mutual Convenience as may promote and secure to both perpetual Peace and Harmony; and having for this desirable End already laid the Foundation of Peace & Reconciliation by the Provisional Articles signed at Paris on the 30th of November 1782, by the Commissioners empowered on each Part, which Articles were agreed to be inserted in and constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which Treaty was not to be concluded until Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain & France, and his Britannic Majesty should be ready to conclude such Treaty accordingly: and the treaty between Great Britain & France having since been concluded, his Britannic Majesty & the United States of America, in Order to carry into full Effect the Provisional Articles above mentioned, according to the Tenor thereof, have constituted & appointed, that is to say his Britannic Majesty on his Part, David Hartley, Esqr., Member of the Parliament of Great Britain, and the said United States on their Part, - John Adams, Esqr., late a Commissioner of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles, late Delegate in Congress from the State of Massachusetts, and Chief Justice of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary of the said United States to their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin, Esqr., late Delegate in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania, President of the Convention of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the Court of Versailles; John Jay, Esqr., late President of Congress and Chief Justice of the state of New York, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the said United States at the Court of Madrid; to be Plenipotentiaries for the concluding and signing the Present Definitive Treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their respective full Powers have agreed upon and confirmed the following Articles.
There were 10 articles in the Treaty.
Historians have concluded that the Americans did very well in their negotiations for the Treaty of Paris.
The below tweet has the signatures of David Hartley, and the three American negotiators.
