2023 National Treaty of Paris Festival
Come Celebrate the 240th Anniversary of the Signing of the 1783 Treaty of Paris!
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
September 16-17, 2023
The Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library
1410 West St
Annapolis, MD 21401
The Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library
1410 West St
Annapolis, MD 21401

Festival Itinerary
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16:
10:00am: The library opens with outdoor tables, uniformed soldiers, and activities.
CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT:
W3R (Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route)
Daughters of the American Revolution, Peggy Stewart Chapter
Ann Arundell County Historical Society
Colonial Tours of Annapolis
Arundel-on-the-Bay History Group
The John Hanson Memorial Association






10:15am: The Auditorium opens with indoor tables, exhibits, and activities.
CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT:
Historic Annapolis
Historic London Town and Gardens
Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area
Daughters of the American Revolution, Peggy Stewart Chapter
Original pre-Washington presidential documents, including items from George Brown's private collection
Arundel-on-the-Bay History Group






11:00am: Festival welcome and opening remarks begin in the Auditorium.
11:00am-Former Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer
11:05am-State Delegate Dana Jones
11:10am-State Senator
Sarah Elfreth
11:15am-State Delegate Shaneka Henson
11:20am-USNA Instructor Mark Croatti



11:30am: Presentation by Dr. Matthew Dziennik
"The Significance of the 1783 Treaty of Paris: British and French Perspectives."


LUNCH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR A COST FROM A VARIETY OF LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS

1:30pm: Presentation by Mark Croatti, M.A.
Instructor, Department of History at the United States Naval Academy and the creator of "The Hall of Presidents Before Washington" exhibit at The Westin in the Presidents Hill neighborhood of Annapolis (2017 Grand Opening).

The 1783 Treaty of Paris didn't just end the American Revolution; it was a negotiated cease-fire that forced the United States to purchase its independence by agreeing to pay the war debts of several European countries, including Great Britain and France, and also agree to restricted borders that guaranteed a continuing British presence in North America that included Naval forces on the Mississippi River, which later directly led not only to Shays's Rebellion and the need for a new Constitution to pay off those debts but also the invasion of Canada, which violated the treaty's border restrictions and started The War of 1812.
3:00pm: Auditorium re-enactment, "The Signing of the 1783 Treaty of Paris"


4:00pm: The library closes until the festival resumes tomorrow.
1:00pm: The library opens.
1:30pm: Presentation by Mark Croatti, M.A.
Instructor, Department of History
at the United States Naval Academy
"The Treaty of Paris Period
(1783 - 1787): From the
Articles of Confederation
to a New Constitution"

During the Treaty of Paris Period, between 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed, and 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia, the city of Annapolis served as a bridge from the Revolution to the Constitution by playing a major role in a series of events that directly led to a new governing document that converted what had been a regional entity of "united" but sovereign states into a single, federal state. These events include the 1784 Land Ordinance, the 1785 Mount Vernon Compact between Maryland and Virginia, and the 1786 Annapolis Convention, where 12 delegates from five states met at Mann's Tavern, just as Shays's Rebellion was underway, to determine whether the Articles of Confederation could be amended in order to finally pay the war debts that had been agreed to in the Treaty of Paris.
3:00pm: Presentation by Dr. Russell Rockefeller
Former Professor and Chair of the
Department of History at
Anne Arundel Community College
"Intentions of The Founders:
An Historical Context of The Constitution, the Bill of Rights,
Amid much current debate over “legal originalism,” history can enlighten us much more than political debate can. The founding documents were not written in a vacuum, but rather out of experience and a profound knowledge of the past. Examining historical records can give us a clear understanding of political theory in the Early Republic regarding such now misconceived concepts as federalism, the separation of power, and checks and balances, as well as both property and individual rights. Those concepts changed over time--as expected by the Founders, who devised methods for change--but only through an honest reexamination of historical context should we attempt to understand the legal ramifications of the founding documents. Join Dr. Rockefeller as we go back in time to the Constitutional Convention in order to embark on a fresh start to such a comprehensive effort.
5:00pm: The library closes.

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Past Televised Lectures

USNA
Fall semester, 2022:
Documents owner Sam Brown and
Naval Academy instructor Mark Croatti
speak about the 14 Presidents before
Washington under the Articles of
Confederation and Continental Congress.

April 4, 2015:
Peter Hanson Michael speaks about
"Remembering President John Hanson"
at the Treaty of Paris Center.

Sept. 14, 2013: Dr. Chris Arndt of JMU
speaks at our 2013 National
Continental Congress Festival
held at the Annapolis Masonic Lodge.

Nov. 26, 2012: Dr. Ken Bowling
of GWU speaks at our 2012 National
Governor Calvert House.

Nov. 26, 2012: Glenn Grasso speaks
at our 2012 National Continental
Congress Festival held at
Governor Calvert House.