Cora Anderson, Sophomore
Ratification Day on January 14th recognizes the ratification of the Treaty of Paris. In 1784, the Treaty of Paris was signed and officially ended the American Revolution. This took place at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland by the Confederation Congress. The Treaty was negotiated by several of the nation's founding fathers, including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Many important decisions were made official in the Treaty. It declared the United States as an independent and sovereign nation. The treaty also defined boundaries in territories like the Northwest Territory. The Northwest included the rich prairie areas of Indiana and Illinois. It also included Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota. The treaty also granted U.S territory as far west as the Mississippi River, but gave Canada to Great Britain.
Leading up to the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, on April 11, 1783, the Confederation Congress declared the cessation of arms against Great Britain. Then on April 15, 1783, Congress approved the preliminary articles of peace. The first draft of the Treaty of Paris was drafted and signed in Paris on September 3, 1783. This was more than a year after the last shots of the war were fired. Originally, Congress was supposed to meet to discuss the Treaty of Paris in November. But even as late as January 12, only seven of the thirteen states were represented. Congress did not have the power to enforce attendance and time was running out because there was only a certain period of time to sign the Treaty before it had to be returned to Great Britain. The last delegate to arrive was Richard Beresford; he left his sickbed in Philadelphia and directly after his arrival, the vote was taken. Three different copies of the treaty were taken back to England just to ensure a copy was received. The treaty barely made it back in time. The U.S. had six months to ratify the treaty and after a significant delay due to lack of delegate attendance, they only had two months to cross the ocean and return the treaty.
Every year on January 14th, the State House in Annapolis, Maryland hosts a ceremony reenacting the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The Old Senate Chamber has been preserved to keep it just as it was during the original signing in 1784. Every year on this date, the State House also flies a flag that has the design displayed at the signing of the treaty. The design of the flag is twelve stars forming a circle with one star in the center. Each year on January 14th, consider taking a trip to see this historic ceremony.
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