242 years ago today, on September 3, 1783, a historic treaty was signed in Paris, ending the American struggle for independence. Representatives of the United States and Great Britain signed the document.
With the Treaty of Paris, Great Britain officially recognized the independence of the United States and its sovereignty as a state. It also defined the territorial borders of the newly formed country. The United States received territories up to the Mississippi River, and the border with Canada in the north was established. Additionally, Florida, which had been returned to Spain, was also acquired by the United States.
The American delegation included influential statesmen Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. Richard Oswald participated in the negotiations on behalf of Great Britain.
The Treaty of Paris not only secured the independence of the United States as a state but also had significant implications for world politics. It became an essential document of international law, which established a new model of relations between colonial powers and newly formed states.
