Hundreds of students return to school this week. But, students shouldn’t be the only ones who learn something! One of the lawyers in our office is a history savant, and believes that no one is ever too old for a history lesson.
Back to School week was a very busy one during the American Revolution.
September 3, 1783: The Treaty of Paris
At the Hotel d’York in Paris, France, statesmen Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Jay signed a peace treaty with Great Britain. The treaty officially ended the American Revolution. There were two other very significant terms in this treaty. First, Great Britain had to formally recognize the United States as an independent nation. Second, Great Britain had to cede control of its territory east of the Mississippi River to the United States. This acquisition of land doubled the size of the United States, and laid the groundwork for future Westward Expansion.
To learn more about the Treaty, click here.
September 5, 1781: The Battle of the Chesapeake
Also known by historians as “The Battle of the Capes,” The Battle of the Chesapeake was a naval battle between the British Navy and French allies at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The French gained control over the seaways, allowing them to send provisions to the Franco-American troops. The French takeover prevented the Royal Navy from evacuating British troops, trapping the British in Yorktown, Virginia. Success at this battle secured victory at Yorktown the following month.
To learn more about this decisive battle, click here.
Best of luck to students in the new school year!
This article is not legal advice. For legal advice, call Graham & Mauer, P.C. today.