The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsFun Fact - the United States only exists by treaty with the UK.
We were never actually legally established by ourselves. As a rebel colony, our Declaration of Independence had no standing. The entire legal basis for our existence is the Treaty of Paris, Article 1:
Article 1st:
His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 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 & Successors, relinquishes all claims to the Government, Propriety, and Territorial Rights of the same and every Part thereof.
Per the US Government, the Treaty is still currently active and in force with the UK, but only Article 1.
https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/267489.pdf page 463:
Definitive treaty of peace.*
Signed at Paris September 3, 1783.
Entered into force May 12, 1784.
Note:
* Only article 1 is in force
Layzeebeaver
(1,614 posts)So the U.K. does not officially recognise Florida as part of the United States as part of this particular treaty.
DetroitLegalBeagle
(1,915 posts)Spain didn't cede it to the US till 1819.
Layzeebeaver
(1,614 posts)...but it just struck me as interesting considering its new permanent resident.
I dont think this bit of trivia is anything that will have anything to do with current affairs.
But still, I can have dreams you know!
sir pball
(4,737 posts)Is the important part - they did specifically recognize the Thirteen Colonies by name, but the subsequent additions to the United States would certainly also be recognized by the treaty.
It is all just some fun historical information, I highly doubt the UK could rescind it and declare our existence illegal...then again I'm not a lawyer.