The American Revolutionary War officially ended on September 3, 1783, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris between Great Britain and the United States.

Quick Scoop: Key Details

  • The war is generally dated from April 19, 1775, to September 3, 1783.
  • The Treaty of Paris (signed September 3, 1783) is what legally and diplomatically ended the Revolutionary War.
  • Major fighting on the mainland had largely stopped after the British defeat at Yorktown in October 1781, but the conflict was not officially over until the treaty was signed and later ratified.

A Short Story Version

Think of Yorktown (1781) as the moment when the war was practically won, and the Treaty of Paris (1783) as the moment when it was officially over. After Yorktown, both sides moved into negotiations, and on September 3, 1783, American diplomats like Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay signed the Treaty of Paris with British representatives, in which Britain formally recognized U.S. independence. This date is what historians use when answering “when did the Revolutionary War end?”

In short: major fighting ended in 1781, but the Revolutionary War officially ended on September 3, 1783, with the Treaty of Paris.

TL;DR: The Revolutionary War officially ended on September 3, 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed, formally ending the conflict between Great Britain and the United States.

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