Part 1 of 3
1. The original of The
Treaty of Paris is on display at the National Archives in
Washington, DC until January 25, 2009
2. After the British surrendered to General George Washington
at Yorktown, Virginia on October 19, 1781, British and American
diplomats met at the Hotel de York in Paris, France to work out
a treaty which would officially end the Revolutionary War. Note,
the dialogue in the balloons depict the final terms agreed upon:
"England must recognize our 13 states as a united, independent,
and soverign nation."
"Our national border should extend to the Mississippi River."
"British troops must withdraw from our country"
The American delegates were (from left) John Jay, Benjamin Franklin,
William Temple Franklin (secretary), Henry Laurens, and John
Adams.
3 The delegates signed the treaty on September 3, 1783. The (lone)
British delegate David Hartley emphasized a critical term in
the document...
"This treaty must be ratified by Parliament and your congress
by March 3, 1784 for it to be valid."
4. There would be a problem in meeting that deadline. On June
8, 1783 the Laki volcano in Iceland erupted with the greatest
force of the millenium. For the next 8 months it emitted some
12.8 million tons of sulphur dioxide and fluorine that cooled
the northern hemisphere and ruined Iceland's agriculture.
More than 20 percent of Iceland's residents died of starvation
and fluorine poisoning.
5. Thomas Mifflin of Pennsylvania, president of the Congress,
convened a ratification session on December 13, 1783 in Annapolis,
Maryland.
Mifflin: "Although every state favors the treaty, we do
not have enough representatives from at least nine states to
approve ratification."
Iceland's volcanic eruptions temporarily changed the climate,
resulting in blizzards which paralyzed the eastern seaboard.
Special thanks for the
research to John Blair of Rockville, MD http://peaceproclamation.com |
Part 2 - Weather or
Not
1. December 1783 - Heavy snowfalls prevented many congressmen
from traveling to Annapolis, Maryland to ratify the Treaty
of Paris which would end the Revolutionary War.
The government was operating under the Articles of Confederation.
Delegate: "Only 7 of the 13 states have enough congressmen
here to vote for the treaty.
Other delegate: "We need 9 states to vote in favor of ratification."
2. Each state must have at least two representatives in
attendance for its vote to count, but six states had either one
or none at the session.
3. Arthur Lee of Virginia, Jacob Read (the only delegate on hand
from South Carolina), and some others approached Thomas Jefferson,
manager of the ratification effort.
Jacob Read: "Let's send the ratification to Paris with just
the seven votes."
Arthur Lee: "Nobody will any the wiser."
4. Jefferson, Elbridge Gerry, and James Monroe strongle objected.
Jefferson: "It must have 9 states in favor. If word of your
trickery got out, our country would lose credibility on an international
scale...and the treaty will be nullified."
5. Jefferson suggested a compromise. "We'll send dthe 7-vote
ratification to Paris and instruct Dr. Franklin to ask for an
extension of the deadling beyond March 3rd.
6. "If the Brits refuse, Dr. Franklin will show them the
7-vote ratification."
7. The vote on Jefferson's compromise was scheduled for January
14th, but the previous evening Oliver Wolcott and Roger Sherman
of Connecticut rode into Annapolis. The compromise would not
be necessary because..
8. On the morning of the 14th Richard Beresford of South Carolina,
who had left his sickbed in Philadelphia, walked into the State
House.
9. The Treaty was quickly ratified. Then Thomas Mifflin, President
of the Congress, devised a plan.
Mifflin: "Col Harmer, Lt. Col. Franks, you will both carry
a copy of the ratified treaty to France on different ships, just
in case one ship gets delayed or lost." |
Part 3 Dashing Through
the Snow
1. Annapolis, MD, January 14, 1784--Of the two Army officers
ordered to carry duplicates of the ratified Treaty of Paris to
France, Lt. Col. Josiah Harmar would get there first.
This is his story. Harmar left Annapolis on an overland route
to New York City.
2. At Head of Elk (now Elkton, MD) he met the French ambassador.
"Captaine D'Aboville will take you to France. This letter
instructs him to render all courtesies to a Congressional courier.
3. Harmar arrived at Newark, NJ, then took a ferry across the
North (now Hudson) River to New York on the morning of January
19.
Ferryman: "There'll be no big ships goin' t' Europe anytime
soon. Too much ice in th' harbor."
4. Finally, on February 21, Harmar boarded the French ship Courier
de L'Amerique and sailed to France.
5. Aafter a grueling month-long voyage Harmar landed at the French
naval base at L'Orient. With Capt. D'Aboville as his interpreter,
he set out for the Passy section of...
6. Paris, where the American diplomat Benjamin Franklin was residing.
Franklin: "You needn't have rushed. I had written to our
fellow peace negotiator Henry Laurens, now in London, to ask
our...
7. "Brisish counterpart Mr. Hartley for more time. Hartley
understood ouir problems with the bad weather, so he granted
an extension."
8. King George III, informed that the American ratification had
arrived, signed the British ratification on April 9, 1784. Both
countries exchanged ratified documents inParis on May 12, 1784.
The Revolutionary war was over |
 |
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