Treaty of Paris (1783)
Also called: Peace of Paris (1783)
Britain recognised American independence and ceded the lands east of the Mississippi and south of the Great Lakes.
Benjamin West · Public domain · Source
After Yorktown Parliament resolved to end the war, and Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Jay negotiated with Britain in Paris. By the treaty signed on 3 September 1783 Britain recognised the independence of the United States and ceded lands reaching west to the Mississippi, north to the Great Lakes and south to Florida (returned to Spain). The Native nations who lived on those lands had no part in the negotiations.
Tens of thousands of Loyalists left for Canada, Britain and the West Indies, and about 3,000 Black Americans who had been promised freedom for serving Britain sailed from New York to Nova Scotia. British troops left New York in November, and in December Washington returned his commission to Congress at Annapolis and went home to Mount Vernon.
