The treaty that officially recognized the independence of the United States is the Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783. This agreement ended the Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the thirteen American colonies, affirming the colonies' sovereignty over the territory east of the Mississippi River. In addition to recognizing independence, the treaty also defined America’s borders and granted fishing rights off the coast of Newfoundland. The Treaty of Paris was significant as it marked the formal acknowledgment of the United States as a sovereign nation on the international stage, allowing it to pursue diplomatic and trade relations independently.