The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the
American Revolution militarily, but a number of points were not resolved. President
George Washington sent
John Jay, chief justice of the
Supreme Court, to England to negotiate a treaty.
The resulting treaty did not serve American interests well. The United States was permitted to trade with the West Indies, but under restrictions. Further restrictions on trading by neutrals during wartime were included. The British were required to complete their withdrawal from forts in the western areas, but they were given more time. Furthermore, the question of pre-war debts was tilted in favor of British merchants.
Washington, however, felt that the treaty was better than renewed conflict with England, and despite public dissatisfaction and some personal criticism of Jay, the treaty was ratified in 1795.
