Today In History : January 14, 2022
On This Day In History
On January 14, 1784, the Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, ending the War for Independence.
In the document, which was known as the Second Treaty of Paris, Britain officially agreed to recognize the independence of its 13 former colonies as the new United States of America.
In addition, the treaty settled the boundaries between the United States and British North America. Both sides agreed to release all prisoners of war.
The United States promised to return land confiscated during the war to its British owners, to stop any further confiscation of British property and to honor the property left by the British army on U.S. shores, including slaves.
Both countries assumed perpetual rights to access the Mississippi River.