Events from the year 1783 in the United States. The American Revolution officially ended with the Treaty of Paris.
Incumbents
President of the Continental Congress: Elias Boudinot (until November 4), Thomas Mifflin (starting November 4)
Events
January–March
January 23 – The Confederation Congress ratifies two October 8, 1782, treaties signed by the United States with the United Netherlands. February 3 – American Revolutionary War: Britain awards the United States independence. Spain refuses to grant diplomatic recognition to the United States. February 4 – American Revolutionary War: Great Britain formally declares that it will cease hostilities with the United States of America. February 26 – The United States Continental Army's Corps of Engineers is disbanded. March 5 – Last celebration of Massacre Day in Boston, Massachusetts. March 15 – Newburgh Conspiracy: A potential uprising in the Continental Army stationed at Newburgh, New York, is defused when George Washington asks the officers to support the supremacy of the United States Congress.
April–June
April – Peace and off Treaty signed with Sweden in Paris, the first act of state concluded between the United States and a foreign power. April 15 – Preliminary articles of peace ending the American Revolutionary War are ratified by the Congress of the Confederation. May 13 – The Society of the Cincinnati, a fraternal organization for American veterans of the American Revolution, is formed in Newburgh, New York. May 18 – The first United Empire Loyalists, fleeing the new United States, reach Parrtown in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. May 26 – A Great Jubilee Day is held in Trumbull, Connecticut, to celebrate the end of the American Revolution. June 20 – Continental Army soldiers mob Independence Hall, Philadelphia, demanding back pay from the Congress of the Confederation in the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783. Congress flees to New Jersey.
July–September
July 16 – Grants of land in Canada to Loyalists are announced. September 3 – American Revolutionary War: Treaty of Paris – A treaty between the United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain is signed in Paris, ending the war and formally granting the United States independence from Great Britain. September 9 – Dickinson College is chartered in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. September 22 – American frontier: Confederation Congress Proclamation of 1783 prohibits the settlement, purchase or receipt of Indian lands beyond existing states without its specific authority and direction.
October–December
November 2 – In Rocky Hill, New Jersey, United States General George Washington gives his Farewell Address to the Army. November 3 – The American Continental Army is disbanded as the first act of business by the Confederation Congress, after Thomas Mifflin is elected the new president to succeed Elias Boudinot. November 25 – Evacuation Day (New York): The last British troops leave New York City and George Washington triumphantly returns, three months after the signing of the Treaty of Paris. November 29 – The 5.3 New Jersey earthquake affects the Province of New Jersey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII ("Very strong"). December 4 – At Fraunces Tavern in New York City, U.S. General George Washington formally bids his officers farewell. December 23 – George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army to the Congress of the Confederation in the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland. He retires to his home at Mount Vernon. Washington's resignation affirms the new nation's commitment to the principle of civilian control of the military and prompts King George III of the United Kingdom to call him "the greatest character of the age."
Undated
Loyalists from New York settle Great Abaco in the Bahamas. Evan Williams (bourbon) distillery is founded in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Ongoing
American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) Articles of Confederation in effect (1781–1788)