Editing George Washington (section)

===Demobilization and resignation===
{{Main|George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief}}
[[File:General George Washington Resigning his Commission.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|alt=Painting by John Trumbull, depicting General Washington, standing in Maryland State House hall, surrounded by statesmen and others, resigning his commission|''[[General George Washington Resigning His Commission]]'', an 1824 portrait by [[John Trumbull]]]]

When peace negotiations began in April 1782, both the British and French began gradually evacuating their forces.{{sfn|Taylor|2016|pp=313–315}} In March 1783, Washington successfully calmed the [[Newburgh Conspiracy]], a planned mutiny by American officers dissatisfied with a lack of pay.<ref name=anb/>{{sfn|Browne|2016|pp=11&ndash;16}} Washington submitted an account of $450,000 in expenses which he had advanced to the army. The account was settled, though it was vague about large sums and included expenses his wife had incurred through visits to his headquarters.{{sfn|Alden|1996|p=209}}

When the [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris]] was signed on September 3, 1783, Britain officially recognized American independence. Washington disbanded his army, giving a farewell address to his soldiers on November 2.{{sfn|Lengel|2005|p=350}} He oversaw the [[Evacuation Day (New York)|evacuation of British forces in New York]] and was greeted by parades and celebrations.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=446, 448–449, 451|Puls|2008|2pp=184–186}}

In early December 1783, Washington bade farewell to his officers at [[Fraunces Tavern]] and [[George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief|resigned as commander-in-chief]] soon after.{{sfn|Taylor|2016|p=319}} In a final appearance in uniform, he gave a statement to the Congress: "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to His holy keeping."{{sfnm|Alden|1996|1p=210|Chernow|2010|2pp=451–452, 455}} Washington's resignation was acclaimed at home and abroad, "extolled by later historians as a signal event that set the country's political course" according to the historian [[Edward J. Larson]].{{sfnm|Larson|2014|1p=10|Wood|1992|2p=206}}{{efn|Thomas Jefferson praised Washington for his "moderation and virtue" in relinquishing command. Reportedly, upon being informed of Washington's plans by painter [[Benjamin West]], King George III remarked: "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world."{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1p=454|Taylor|2016|2pp=319–320}}}} The same month, Washington was appointed president-general of the [[Society of the Cincinnati]], a newly established hereditary fraternity of Revolutionary War officers.{{sfn|Chernow|2010|p=444}}