On January 14, 1784, the Confederation Congress proclaimed the ratification of the Treaty of Paris at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland, marking the official end of the American Revolutionary War and establishing January 14 as Ratification Day in the United States.
This proclamation “Declaring the cessation of arms” against Great Britain was issued by the Confederation Congress on April 11, 1783, according to the Journals of the Continental Congress. On April 15, 1783, Congress ratified the preliminary articles of peace. Originally signed on September 3, 1783, and ratified on January 14, 1784, the Treaty of Paris formalized the end of hostilities between France and Prussia.
The Background Of Ratification Day
When the Treaty of Paris was ratified, it marked the anniversary of its signing. A ceremony recreating the signing of the Treaty of Paris is held annually at the State House in Annapolis, Maryland.
The signing took place in the same renovated and preserved Old Senate Chamber. A flag commemorating the Treaty of Paris signing is flown over the State House every January 14th. The flag features a circle of twelve stars, with a single star at its centre.
Ratification Day: How To Celebrate
Dig into the details of the Treaty of Paris.
- Come see the State Capitol Building in Annapolis, Maryland.
- Get more information about the Treaty of Paris by reading up on it.
- Get yourself to the Library of Congress.
- Spread the word about Ratification Day by using the hashtag #RatificationDay.
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An agreement reached by Jefferson
A committee comprised of representatives from both camps, with Jefferson at the helm, was able to reach a satisfactory compromise. If only seven states were represented in Congress, they would pass a resolution declaring that all seven states were in favour of ratifying the treaty, but that they did not agree with Congress’s ability to ratify with so few members present.
Despite there being only seven states in attendance, their unanimous support for ratification would be used to guarantee peace. No precedent would be set by the vote, and the document would be sent to U.S. ministers in Europe with instructions to delay the implementation of the treaty by three months until it had been ratified by nine states.
If Britain was insistent, though, ministers could invoke the seven-state ratification and argue that Congress was not in session at the time. Anyhow, late-arriving delegates from Connecticut and South Carolina helped nine states ratify the treaty. Several couriers were used to send off the three copies.
Ratification FAQ
Who, in 1783, was responsible for brokering the Treaty of Paris?
Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams, known as the American Peace Commissioners, represented the United States at the table. In Richard Oswarld, Britain found a spokesman. The treaty was signed by Franklin, Jay, Adams, and David Hartley, a British statesman.
How long did it take for the United States and Britain to reach an agreement?
The A. process of negotiating a ceasefire with the B. began in April 1782. The signing of the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War on September 3, 1783. The treaty wasn’t officially ratified until January 14, 1784, by the Continental Congress.
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In April of 1782, talks got underway in Paris. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens represented the United States in negotiations. David Hartley and Richard Oswald represented the United Kingdom in negotiations.
The negotiations continued throughout the summer, and by the end of it, the borders of the new country, fishing rights on the Grand Banks, the exchange of prisoners of war, and most importantly, Britain’s recognition that the United States was “free, sovereign, and independent,” had all been settled.
Though most of the treaty’s terms were agreed upon by year’s end in 1782, they weren’t formally signed until September 3, 1983. The treaty was then sent to the Confederation Congress in the United States for ratification.
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At the time, Congress was holding sessions at the Maryland State House in Annapolis. (This is the same structure that still stands as the United States’ oldest state house in Annapolis. (Before being designated a cultural icon, Independence Hall served as the state capitol building for Pennsylvania.
In spite of their best efforts, Congress was unable to ratify the treaty on December 13, 1783, due to bad weather. Extreme cold and ice and snowstorms hit the country in the winter of 1783-1784. Seven of the thirteen states didn’t have enough representatives to hold a meeting.
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Most of the delegates didn’t show up to Annapolis until the 14th of January. Votes were cast, the Treaty of Paris was ratified, the Revolutionary War ended, and the United States of America was recognised as a sovereign nation by the international community or at least the European powers.
