The Importance Of The Peace Of Paris 1783

Question 1

When did negotiations begin and why ?

Answer 1

April 1782
- As a result of Yorktown, French naval defeat in the West Indies and spiralling costs
- new Whig Ministry under Marquis of Rockingham and his foreign minister Shelburne aware of the political opinion change and the war being unwinable

Question 2

What did Britian want from the treaty ?

Answer 2

• motivated to find a settlement that would safeguard British colonists and prevent revenge being taken on loyalists and to restore profitable traditions relations
• did not want to cede valuable territory to Spain or France

Question 3

What did the colonial delegation want from Britain in North America ?

Answer 3

Canada however they accept Britian control of Canada and existing northern frontiers

Question 4

What was the treaty influenced by ?

Answer 4

The splits between colonials and the French
- French foreign minister more concerned in getting a settlement rather than long term interest of America

Question 5

What two proposals did the French foreign minister make to America ?

Answer 5

• Britain should continue to control lands North of the Ohio river (restricting colonial expansion)
• barrier stage should be set up which would be ruled by Natives between New Spain and the American colonies

Both of these were unpopular with the colonial delegation

Question 6

After the colonists negotiated directly with Shelburne, what terms did he offer ?

Answer 6

• colonies independence recognised
• would gain all of the territory east of the Mississippi bounded by Spanish Florida and British Canada
• British grant fishing rights off Canada to the colonist
• agreement over returning prisoners and allowing loyalists to try to recover property taken in the war

Question 7

What was listed in the deprecate treaties signed with France, Spain and the Dutch ?

Answer 7

• Spain gained Minorca in the Mediterranean but not Gibraltar of any West Indian islands
• France gained Tobago in the West Indies and lands conquered from Britain were returned
• France gained Senegal in West Africa
• France granted some fishing rights off Canada
• Dutch lands taken during the war returned but had to open their Asian trade to Britian

Question 8

When did US congress ratify the treaty ?

Answer 8

1784

Question 9

What was the most remarkable part of the treaty ?

Answer 9

The provisions relating to the border of Canada giving the whole area of the US

Question 10

Was there much protection to loyalists ?

Answer 10

Limited and there was little hope their enemies would head the advice of the states
- loyalists were abandoned and thousands fled to Canada