The Treaty of Versailles or Second Treaty of Paris was drafted 20 January 1783 but signed by the United States and Great Britain on 3 September 1783. It ended the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and Britain recognized the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776. Great Britain recognized U.S. claims of land south of Canada; west to the Mississippi River and south to Florida. At that time the western boundaries of Connecticut, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia were all at the Mississippi River.
Treaties signed the same day ended Britain's war with France (the Seven Year War or French and Indian War) and with Spain. They recognized Spain's claim to Florida which had been a British colony since the 1763 Treaty of Paris. The western boundary of Florida was also at the Mississippi River. The northern boundary of West Florida was at the 31st parallel. The west boundary of East Florida was the Apalachicola River and the north boundary was along the St. Mary River. These various boundaries were shown on this map of the United States attributed to Abel Buell. This is the first map of the U.S. made by and American publisher.
After this Treaty many of the British who had settled in Florida had to leave but the sentiment of the United States as well as England and France was still opposed to the Spanish influence in Louisiana and now Florida.
Abel Buell was an engraver who had worked with Paul Revere to engrave Bernard Roman's map ""Part of the Province of East Florida"". Image scanned from a reproduction of the original map.