National Ratification Day:

The National Ratification Day is celebrated every year on the 14th of January; it officially marks the day when American Revolution ended. It also commemorates the landmark ratification of the Treaty of Paris on January 14th, 1784.

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Related: Other National Days Celebrated on January 14th:

National Dress Up Your Pet Day

National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day

Why National Ratification Day?

The National Ratification Day is Day on which the American Revolutionary War was ended officially. The War was ended with the Treaty of Paris. The Treaty of Paris was supposed to be signed and ratified 6 months after the presentation.

The treaty was signed in Annapolis, Maryland, at the State House, where a ceremony took place to mark the day; the Senate chamber was renovated so it could be preserved just like that. The Flag of which was flying that day is still made its appearance on the top of the Senate House every year.

The Congressional announcement of the Treaty of Paris took place on 14th January 1784 at Maryland by the Confederation Congress. The Treaty was signed right after two years of the day when they gave up Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1784.

This Treaty established the United States as a Sovereign entity globally, and England accepted the status with the end of the War.

How Can we celebrate National Ratification Day:

We can celebrate this often forgotten and less popular day and make it as special as it deserved to be by:

• Learning more and more about the Treaty of Paris.
• Make people more aware of the importance of the day.
• Visit the Maryland State House.
• Use Social Media for celebration and awareness and use #RatificationDay#NationalRatificationDay#TreatyofParis#MarylandStateHouse

Interesting facts About National Ratification Day:

When the treaty was proposed, the colonies were supposed to sign the treaty. The deadline given to them was of six months, in six months they would need to sign and present it back to England to end the ongoing war with England on September 3, 1783.

But do you realize that we did not have fast transportations back then or digital platforms or fax etc.? The treaty was supposed to be in England in six months, and the journey to England from America would have taken two months. Continental Congress was due to signing, but many of the voters did not show up for voting. They did not have enough delegates to make the treat valid.

However, Richard Beresford of South Carolina left his sickbed to use his vote for the cause, and the Treaty of Paris finally got officiated because of him. We must have lost it if not for him or get delayed by sometimes, which could cause major damage.

Another fun fact is that the Treat of Paris was signed at the Maryland State of House. That State House gets renovated and kept preserved as it was on the day the treaty was signed. It has become a part of American History and Heritage which reminds us of the end of the American Revolution.

Every Year on 14th January, a Flag flies on the top of the Senate House. The same flag was the design back then at the time of signing the treaty. The Flag has twelve stars forming a circle, with one start at the center.

A ceremony also takes place at the place where the Treaty of Paris was signed.

History of National Ratification Day:

When the treaty of Paris was signed, it was already eight years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Through the Treaty of Paris, Britain recognized the status of the United States as a Sovereign entity and defined few boundaries. The main boundaries defined were Northwest Territory of States, including Rich Prairie lands of Indiana and Illinois, and Ohio.

Other important parts were Michigan, Wisconsin, and Parts of Minnesota, which were included in the Treaty of Paris. Many prominent figures of politics, Economy and Society, etc., were present who negotiated the treaty. The panel also included Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams, among others.

• On April 11, 1783, the proclamation was issued by The Confederation Congress under the head “Declaring the Cessation of arms” against Great Britain.
• Congress approved the articles presented on April 15th of 1783.
• The Confederation of Congress got six months to ratify the agreement but finished it on January 14th of 1784.