When did the British finally recognize the USA as an independent country for which to open diplomatic and economic relations? I WAG once the War of 1812 failed??? Or, were the British still bitter and begrudging towards the USA? - Jinx
Treaty of Paris, 1783.
I’m no history buff, but I did a google search and this may help http://www.bupipedream.com/020208/news/n6.html
No, that is when other nations recognized as a nation. The British would have nothing to do with us, and the War of 1812 brought their bitterness to a head. Any other thoughts…? - Jinx
Well, the British signed the treaty, so one would expect by that action they did, in fact, “recognize” us.
Let me quote:
“It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the hearts of the most serene and most potent Prince George the Third, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg, arch- treasurer and prince elector of the Holy Roman Empire etc., and of the United States of America, to forget all past misunderstandings and differences that have unhappily interrupted the good correspondence and friendship which they mutually wish to restore, and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory intercourse, between the two countries upon the ground of reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience as may promote and secure to both perpetual peace and harmony; and having for this desirable end already laid the foundation of peace and reconciliation by the Provisional Articles signed at Paris on the 30th of November 1782, by the commissioners empowered on each part, which articles were agreed to be inserted in and constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States,”
"Article 1: His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and independent states, that he treats with them as such, and for himself, his heirs, and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety, and territorial rights of the same and every part thereof. "
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/treaty-paris.htm
Why do you think that?
Commerce and other exchanges continued between the two countries throughout that period. The British did have a low priority policy of keeping the natives on the western frontier agitated so as to limit the expansion of the U.S. in ways that might jeopardize Canada, but they did not invest heavily in that policy, either in funds or manpower. They also tended to be rather protectionist regarding skilled trades, as the Industrial Revolution kicked off–but they were that way toward every one.
The War of 1812 was pretty much a U.S. decision. The Brits would have been quite happy if the U.S. had not acted up and distracted them from their ongoing war with Bonaparte. (Without a war with France, impressment of U.S. seamen would have probably fallen off precipitously, anyway. I don’t know how long they would have continued to suport Indian resistance to U.S. expansion without the War of 1812, but that activity did not hinder their imports of tobacco or cotton or their exports of manufactured products to the U.S.)