Final answer:
In 1778, Americans negotiated an agreement with France amidst the American Revolution, culminating in the Treaty of Paris in 1783, by which Great Britain recognized U.S. independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1778, the Americans worked out an agreement with France. This was during a tumultuous period of the American Revolution where various conflicts taxed the resources of the British military. The diplomatic negotiations that the Americans engaged in led to the signing of several treaties, including the Treaty of Paris in 1783, finalized between officials from Great Britain and the United States. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay were notable American figures who led the negotiations for the United States, with David Hartley representing King George III of Great Britain.
The Treaty of Paris recognized the independence of the United States and set forth its geographic boundaries. The treaty's provisions also addressed fishing rights, the treatment of Loyalists, and the return of their confiscated property. The French, a key ally to the Americans, had hoped to keep the Americans from signing a separate peace with the British, as the ongoing war strained British resources. However, the American negotiators pursued their own peace, understanding the necessity to cease the financial and human life toll of the war on their emerging nation.