name of several important treaties signed at or near Paris.

Treaty of Paris, 1763.

The Treaty of Paris signed on Feb. 10, 1763, by Great Britain and its adversaries, France and Spain, ended the Seven Years’ War in Europe and the New World phase of the conflict, the French and Indian War in America. For the issues and military engagements involved and for the provisions of the treaty, see FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR; SEVEN YEARS’ WAR,.

Treaty of Paris, 1783.

The Treaty of Paris signed on Sept. 3, 1783, by Great Britain and the U.S. concluded the American Revolution. By its terms, Great Britain recognized its former 13 colonies as the free and sovereign United States of America. On the same day, Great Britain also signed separate treaties with France, an ally of the U.S., and Spain, an ally of France.

Treaties of Paris, 1814 and 1815.

From 1799 to 1815 France, under Napoleon Bonaparte (after 1804, Napoleon I), waged a series of wars, called the NAPOLEONIC WARS, (q.v.), against various European nations. In 1814 he was defeated and forced to abdicate. The Treaty of Paris, signed on May 30, 1814, by France and its allied adversaries—Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia, Sweden, Portugal, and Spain—was lenient. France retained the territory it held in Europe as of 1792 and did not pay an indemnity. Great Britain returned all French colonies except Tobago, Saint Lucia, and Mauritius. The Congress of Vienna was called for the resettlement of territories taken by Napoleon in Europe.

Napoleon returned to France on March 1, 1815, in an attempt to regain power. Defeated at Waterloo, he abdicated a second time. A new peace treaty, a treaty of alliance, was signed at Paris on Nov. 20, 1815, by Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia. French borders were reduced to those of 1790. France was made to pay 700 million francs in war damages and to finance an allied occupation army in France for a maximum of five years. The Treaty of 1814, except for provisions not revoked by the Treaty of 1815, was to continue as binding, as were the territorial arrangements of the Congress of Vienna.

Treaty of Paris, 1856.

The Treaty of Paris signed on March 30, 1856, ended the CRIMEAN WAR (q.v.), a conflict between Turkey—supported by Great Britain, France, and Sardinia—and Russia.

Treaty of Paris, 1898.

The Treaty of Paris signed on Dec. 10, 1898, and ratified by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 6, 1899, ended the SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, (q.v.).