New Collection: Treaties of Peace 1783

In 1783, several treaties of peace were signed to formally end the American Revolutionary War.  Since the war had become global, representatives of Great Britain first signed peace treaties with France and Spain in January of 1783. Then, in September, representatives of Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris with the United States of America. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay signed for the United States. As you can imagine, American newspapers packed their pages with content relating to the “Definitive Treaty” when it finally made its way across the Atlantic in October and November of 1783.  The Treaties of Peace 1783 collection contains the following items:

Gentleman’s Magazine (London) – February 1783
Full printing of the Preliminary Articles of Peace with France
Full printing of the Preliminary Articles of Peace with Spain
Full printing of the Provisional Articles of Peace with The Thirteen United States

Newport Mercury (Rhode Island) – May 10, 1783
Full printing of the Preliminary Articles of Peace with Spain
Extensive end-of-war reporting from across Europe and America
Major-General Baron de Steuben becoming a citizen of Pennsylvania

London Chronicle – September 27 to 30, 1783
Full printing of the Definitive Treaty of Paris

Connecticut Journal – October 1, 1783
Excitement stirs as news of the signed peace treaty nears

Pennsylvania Packet – November 1, 1783
News that the “Definitive Treaty” is signed arrives (with rare 18th century headline)