On This Day in History

On January 20, 1783, representatives of the United States and Britain signed a "Cessation of Hostilies" agreement (ratified by King George on February 14) to end military actions in the Revolutionary War. The United States had lost more battles than it won. But the losses were never decisive enough to convince the colonies to give up. And then they gained a powerful ally that had so abiding a hatred of Britain that it was willing to back the rebels against a superior force. Ultimately, the rebels' determination to control their homeland and willingness to turn to a former enemy for help drove the British out of the American colonies. There's a clue there for somebody.