Which document formally ended the American Revolutionary War?

• A. The Declaration of Independence
• B. The Articles of Confederation
• C. The Treaty of Paris
• D. The Federalist Papers

Answer: (C)

The ending of the fighting and the recognition of American independence came through a peace agreement, the Treaty of Paris in 1783. This treaty was the official document that settled the war by outlining the terms of peace between Britain and the United States, including recognizing American independence and setting new boundaries for the United States. It is the key source that marks the formal end of the conflict and transitions the colonies into a recognized nation.

The Declaration of Independence did not end the war; it announced the colonies’ decision to break from Britain in 1776. The Articles of Confederation created a loose framework for the new nation’s government after the war had begun and continued, not ended, the fighting. The Federalist Papers were a set of essays arguing for ratifying a new Constitution, long after the war had concluded.