Page 75 - ASM Book 9/2020

1782
Moving Towards Peace
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• FEBRUARY 27 - BRITISH ACTION: The House of Commons voted to stop the war.
• MARCH 5 - BRITISH ACTION: Parliament empowered the King to negotiate peace with the United States.
• MARCH 20 - BRITISH ACTION: British Prime Minister Lord North resigned. He was succeeded by Lord Rockingham who sought immediate negotiations with the Americans.
• APRIL 4 - BRITISH ACTION: Sir Guy Carleton became the new commander of British forces in America, replacing General William Clinton. He implemented a new policy to end hostilities and send British troops back to England.
• APRIL 12 - AMERICAN & BRITISH ACTION: Peace talks began in Paris between Benjamin Franklin and Richard Oswald of Britain.
• JUNE 20 - AMERICAN ACTION: Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States of America and designated the bald eagle as the national bird.
• NOVEMBER 30 - AMERICAN & BRITISH ACTION: A preliminary peace treaty was signed in Paris. Terms included recognition of American independence; boundaries of the United States were established; and all British forces would withdraw from America.
• DECEMBER 14 - BRITISH ACTION: British forces evacuated Charleston, South Carolina.
British Evacuated Charleston Before Christmas
The red line represents the path of the British troops retreating from the town gates on December 14, 1782. The blue line represents the Americans advancing down King Street. Detail from map reads: “The Investiture of Charleston by the English” from the Library of Congress.
June 20, 1782
Congress Adopted
the Great Seal of the United States
Preliminary sketch of the Great Seal