What 1763 treaty ended the French and Indian War?

The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1763, ended the French and Indian War. The agreement formally concluded the North American conflict between Great Britain and France, which was part of the larger global Seven Years’ War.

Representatives signed the treaty in Paris on February 10, 1763. France recognized Britain’s control of Canada and most of its North American possessions east of the Mississippi River. Spain, which had entered the war as France’s ally, ceded Florida to Britain but received French Louisiana west of the Mississippi. France retained some Caribbean islands and fishing rights near Newfoundland.

The treaty shifted the balance of power in North America decisively toward Britain. However, the peace created new tensions. Britain inherited a large empire and substantial war debts, and its efforts to raise revenue from the American colonies contributed to later resistance and the American Revolution.

The Treaty of Fontainebleau is an easy source of confusion: France secretly transferred Louisiana to Spain in 1762, before the Treaty of Paris was signed. The Treaty of Hubertusburg, signed separately in 1763, settled the European conflict between Prussia and Austria rather than the French and Indian War in North America.