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Pinckney's Treaty, also known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo or the Treaty of
Madrid, was signed in San Lorenzo de El
Escorial on October 27, 1795 and
established intentions of friendship between the United States and
Spain. It also defined the boundaries of the U.S. with the Spanish colonies and
guarantees U.S. navigation rights on the Mississippi River. The
treaty's full title is Treaty of Friendship, Limits, and Navigation Between Spain and the United States.
Thomas Pinckney negotiated the treaty for the U.S and Don Manuel de Godoy represented
Spain. Ratifications were exchanged on April
25, 1796 and the treaty was proclaimed on August 2, 1796.
The treaty was submitted to the U.S. Senate on February 26, 1796 and ratified by the U.S. on March 7, 1796. It was ratified by Spain on April
25, 1796 and ratifications were exchanged on that date. The treaty was proclaimed on August 2, 1796
By terms of the treaty, Spain and the U.S. agreed that the southern boundary of the U.S. with the Spanish Colonies of East and West Florida was a
line beginning on the Mississippi River at the 31st degree north latitude drawn due east to the middle of the Chattahoochee River and from there along the middle of the river to
the junction with the Flint River and from there
straight to the headwaters of the St. Marys River and from there along the middle of the channel to the Atlantic Ocean. This describes the current boundary between the present state
of Florida and Georgia and the line from the northern boundary of the Florida panhandle to the northern boundary of
that portion of Louisiana east of the Mississippi.
This boundary had been in dispute since the British had expanded the territory of the Florida colonies while it was in possession of them. It
had moved the boundary from the 31st degree latitude northwards to a line drawn due east from the junction of the Yazoo River and the Mississippi (the present day location of Vicksburg, Mississippi). After the American Revolutionary War, Spain claimed the British
border adjustment while the U.S. insisted on the original boundary.
The treaty directed the U.S. and Spain to jointly survey the boundary line. Andrew Ellicott was the U.S.
Commissioner for this survey party.
The treaty set the western boundary of the U.S. separating it from the Spanish Colony of Louisiana as the middle of the
Mississippi River from the northern boundary of the United States to the 31st degree north latitude. It also guarantees
navigation of the entire length of the river for both the U.S. and Spain.
The U.S. and Spain agreed to not incite native tribes to warfare. They also agreed to protect the vessels of the other party
anywhere within their jurisdictions and to not detain or embargo the other's citizens or vessels.
The territory ceded by Spain in this treaty was organized by the U.S. into the Mississippi Territory in 1798.
See also
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