“RATIFICATION DAY” | Grandma’s Stories

Jan 15th “RATIFICATION DAY”

Ratification Day on January 14th annually recognizes the act the officially ended the American Revolution. This day is in commemoration of the ratification of the Treaty of Paris on January 14, 1784, at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland by the Confederation Congress and established the United States as a sovereign entity.

The Confederation Congress issued a proclamation on April 11, 1783, “Declaring the cessation of arms” against Great Britain.
Congress approved the preliminary articles of peace on April 15, 1783.
The Treaty of Paris was ratified on January 14, 1784.

The following is an excerpt from the proclamation of ratification:

“By the United States in Congress assembled, a proclamation: Whereas definitive articles of peace and friendship, between the United States of America and His Britannic Majesty, were concluded and signed at Paris, on the 3rd day of September 1783 … we have thought proper by these presents, to notify the premises to all the good citizens of these United States …

Given under the seal of the United States, witness His Excellency Thomas Mifflin, our president, at Annapolis, this fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four … ” ~ Definitive Articles of the Peace of Paris – Signed by representatives of Britain and The United States on September 3, 1783.

HOW TO OBSERVE #RatificationDay

Learn more about the Treaty of Paris.

Visit the Maryland State House
Read more about the Treaty of Paris
Visit the Library Congress

Use #RatificationDay to post on social media.

RATIFICATION DAY HISTORY

Ratification Day recognizes the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris. In Annapolis Maryland at the State House, a ceremony takes place where officials signed the treaty. The Old Senate Chamber has been renovated and preserved just as it was at the signing. Every January 14, a flag in the design that was displayed at the time of the signing of the Treaty of Paris flies over the State House; twelve stars forming a circle with one star in the center.