F16.5B

War Over, Peace Established, American Independence Secure London, Paris 1784

LONDON- After the eight long years of battle, Great Britain and the United States declared a treaty ending the Revolutionary War. In 1781, after many courageous acts of bravery, soldiers of the United States left the battlefield at Yorktown in victory when the British surrendered. Shortly after, Congress sent representatives of the United States to work out a treaty for peace and independence in Paris.

The treaty of Paris was between Great Britain and the United States. Congress sent Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay, and Henry Lawrence to work out the very imperative treaty that would later end the eight-year war. Richard Oswald represented Great Britain. The treaty was signed by the same people that were sent to create it. Each person that contributed to the treaty provided vital information. The famous treaty of Paris ended the revolutionary war. "It's all over!" announced the British prime minister after the defeat at Yorktown. Under the terms of the treaty, Britain recognized the independent nation of the United States of America. Britain agreed to remove all of their troops from the new self-governing nation. The United States agreed to pay off any debts they owed to Britain. The treaty set many new different borders for the United States and Britain. The treaty formally ended the war and provided Americans with more fishing rights off the newfound land. The Americans had an incredible victory on the battlefield at Yorktown. About a year after, a talk started to form about establishing a treaty in 1781. 1783, Congress approves the treaty of Paris, and shortly after the treaty becomes ratified. Most treaty negotiations are held in Paris. Continental Congress ratified this peace treaty in Maryland. England recognized the United States independence. They got an enormous piece of land covering the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Mississippi river and from the great lakes down to Florida. However, the state of Florida was returned to Spain. They had very diverse forms of geography throughout their land.

The Battle of Yorktown was a great victory for Americans. The treaty was created to make peace throughout the Americans and British. The achievement of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay is known as "The greatest triumph in American diplomacy". Land also was divided up and boundaries were set for the countries. Peace treaties are significant to countries because they create peace and bring an end to war. The Treaty of Paris was the correct way to end the Revolutionary War. Without it, there might still be conflict between Britain and the United States. The American Revolution began in 1775 with Lexington and Concord, and the Battle of Bunker Hill, followed by the Declaration of Independence a year after. Americans took a defeat at Long Island, and turn and retreat at Battle of Trenton and Battle of Saratoga. Washington and his army later faced the cold long winter at Valley Forge. In 1781, Americans took two victories at Cowpens and Yorktown. The defeat of Cornwallis led to the two year conversation about a treaty. Washington led a surreptitious attack on Cornwallis and his soldiers in the middle of the night. They surrendered to the surprise attack because they were not equipped with proper materials. The Battle of Yorktown followed the establishment of the Treaty of Paris. The discussion about the treaty began in Paris, in 1782. This was to discuss the meaning of it. This document held a lot of potential for the colonies. On April 15, 1783, congress approved the Treaty of Paris.

Reported by: Sami Sasala and Grace Bollas 