So what's this whole treaty thing about anyway?
To gain a complete understanding, we can begin with the American War for Independence (1775-1783). This war was apart of the American Revolution and was actually a world conflict, although the majority of it centered around the United States and Great Britain. The Treaty of Paris ended the revolution as a peace process by finally recognizing the United States as an independent nation.
Bet great ol' mother Britain wasn't too happy about that, was she?
You can take it from this perspective. Great Britain is known as having been the 'mother' of the colonies. Well, when her kids reached the teenage years, they rebelled against her (the American Revolution) and won most of the fights. Pretty impressive, considering the might of the British at that time. The United States enforced two major conditions in the treaty: their total independence (no longer living in mom's basement) and the expansion of their territory.
You can also think about it like this: the United States was the rebellious brother of Canada at the time and when they extended an invitation for us to join them in upheaval, the provinces of Canada (being the peace-loving nation we are) declined. So, the Americans invaded us. But we showed them what's up. That's covered in another section of this site.
Bet great ol' mother Britain wasn't too happy about that, was she?
You can take it from this perspective. Great Britain is known as having been the 'mother' of the colonies. Well, when her kids reached the teenage years, they rebelled against her (the American Revolution) and won most of the fights. Pretty impressive, considering the might of the British at that time. The United States enforced two major conditions in the treaty: their total independence (no longer living in mom's basement) and the expansion of their territory.
You can also think about it like this: the United States was the rebellious brother of Canada at the time and when they extended an invitation for us to join them in upheaval, the provinces of Canada (being the peace-loving nation we are) declined. So, the Americans invaded us. But we showed them what's up. That's covered in another section of this site.
Anyway, the ultimate effect was that mother Britain would still snag back some of the stuff she had lost. Regardless, the Treaty of Paris (1783) was still a pinnacle moment for the United States.
After many years of the struggle for independence, the American victory at Yorktown played a big role in the end of major fighting . In October, 1781, Charles Cornwallis (Edward Cornwallis' dad, maybe his son's future deeds gave his dad some bad karma here) surrendered Yorktown to General George Washington. After many years of the struggle for independence, the American victory at Yorktown played a big role in the end of major fighting .
The Treaty of Paris impacted Canada on all levels - economically, socially, culturally and politically. A lot of those effects were born from the lack of consideration the treaty gave to Aboriginals and the American Loyalist communities.
In the document, there were certain items that had the most effect on our country in the 17th century. Here are some of them:
Today, only one of the treaty conditions are still in practice. I'm sure you can guess which one it is...
After many years of the struggle for independence, the American victory at Yorktown played a big role in the end of major fighting . In October, 1781, Charles Cornwallis (Edward Cornwallis' dad, maybe his son's future deeds gave his dad some bad karma here) surrendered Yorktown to General George Washington. After many years of the struggle for independence, the American victory at Yorktown played a big role in the end of major fighting .
The Treaty of Paris impacted Canada on all levels - economically, socially, culturally and politically. A lot of those effects were born from the lack of consideration the treaty gave to Aboriginals and the American Loyalist communities.
In the document, there were certain items that had the most effect on our country in the 17th century. Here are some of them:
- Establishment of new boundaries between British North America (Canada at the time) and the sovereign United States
- The "recommendation" by Congress to reimburse Loyalist property confiscated in America during the war
- The recognition of the United States as a free and independent nation
- Grant of fishing rights to American fishermen in the Great Banks, off the coast of Newfoundland and in the gulf of St Lawrence
Today, only one of the treaty conditions are still in practice. I'm sure you can guess which one it is...
In this site I've included 4 different causes and effects of the Treaty of Paris. The cause was the American War of Independence, and my effects center around the failure of the Treaty to recognize Loyalist and Aboriginal rights. The most ultimate effect of the Treaty was the Constitutional Act of 1791, which created Upper and Lower Canada. I hope you enjoy!
Done by painter Benjamin West. "American Commissioners of the Preliminary Peace Agreement with Great Britain". From left to right, the delegators of the treaty: John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens and William Temple Franklin. The British commissioners refused to pose and the painting was never finished. (Britain just has to ruin everything for everyone else if they don't get their way, don't they? :)