What is National Ratification Day? Understanding Its Significance in U.S. History
This Tuesday is significant—it’s the 241st anniversary of the United States being officially recognized as an independent and sovereign country, a day referred to as National Ratification Day.
This pivotal event occurred on January 14, 1784, when the Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, which confirmed the United States’ independence and sovereignty, as noted by the Library of Congress.
Key figures such as Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams negotiated and signed the treaty on September 3, 1783, along with British representative David Hartley, according to the National Archives. This ratification in January 1784 marked the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War.
According to the Library of Congress, two main outcomes were agreed upon:
- Recognition of U.S. independence by Britain.
- Defined boundaries that would facilitate American expansion towards the Mississippi River.
Although National Ratification Day is not designated as a federal holiday, it symbolizes a crucial event in U.S. history. Here’s what you should know.
Events Leading Up to National Ratification Day
The ratification of the Treaty of Paris was the result of the American Revolutionary War, which began nearly a decade earlier, in April 1775.
The colonies declared their separation from Great Britain through the Declaration of Independence, famously adopted on July 4, 1776. However, conflicts persisted between American and British forces for several more years, and it wasn’t until the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 that Britain formally recognized the U.S. as an independent nation.
The Signing of the Treaty of Paris
A preliminary peace treaty was signed by British and American representatives on November 30, 1782, according to the Library of Congress.
In April 1783, the Continental Congress called for a cease-fire, as reported by the National Constitution Center. Shortly thereafter, they approved the preliminary treaty and dispatched it back to Paris for official signing.
The finalized treaty—the Peace of Paris—was signed in September 1783 at the Hôtel d’York in Paris, as noted by History.com.
The treaty required ratification within six months after its signing and had to journey from France to Maryland, where Congress was convening at the Maryland State House in Annapolis. Subsequently, it had to be sent back to Europe, according to the National Constitution Center.
By January 12, only seven out of the thirteen states were officially represented, as reported by the Library of Congress. However, more delegates arrived, including Richard Beresford from South Carolina, who traveled from his sickbed in Philadelphia to join the lawmakers in Annapolis.
On January 14, 1784, the Treaty of Paris was ratified.
Visitors today can view a copy of the Treaty of Paris, along with the desk where it was signed, in the John Quincy Adams State Drawing Room at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
The original document is housed in the National Archives, according to a spokesperson.
Saleen Martin is a reporter for the team. Hailing from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin.
