(Back referenced - 1779)
After struggling to hold onto power, in the face of the loss of the American colonies, unrest, and increasing disfavor, the North Ministry of Great Britain's parliament resigns after word reaches England of the defeat at Yorktown.
It is succeeded by the Second Rockingham ministry who were favorable to seeking peace and manages to push through the close of the war, only for yet others to be dissatisfied with Britain gains and losses in the treaty. The Second Rockingham Ministry resigned again a mere three month's later. After a few more months of indecisive bickering the Shelburne Ministry is formed in January 1780.
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March 1782:
Finance minister Robert Morris is authorized by the U.S. Congress, to establish a national mint in Philadelphia, and establish the forms of UAS decimal coinage.
The bald eagle is chosen as the emblem of the United American States, and Congress adopts the design for the Great Seal of the UAS.
April 1782:
George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit (or the Order of the Purple Heart to honor soldiers' merit in battle
The UAS Congress adopts a system of franking privilege for official correspondence to be sent at no charge to and from members of the Congress, at government expense, during periods when the Congress is in session.
May 1782:
Chief Kamehameha I of Hawaii gains control of the northern part of the island of Hawaii, after defeating his cousin Kīwalaʻō.
June 1782:
The Shelburne ministry resigns amidst unrest coming from returning soldiers whom are out of work, and financial struggles stemming from the prior cost of the war. Significant unrest and murmuring, and new fears of more revolts, prompts the formation of the
Fox-North coalition.
In direct response to a fear of Irish revolt coming out like the American ones, the Parliament of Great Britain passes the Repeal of Act for Securing Dependence of Ireland Act, a major component of the reforms collectively known as the
Constitution of 1782, which restore legislative independence to the Parliament of Ireland.
July 1782:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera
Die Entführung aus dem Serail premieres at the Burgtheater in Vienna.
September 1782:
The British Parliament extends James Watt's patent for the steam engine to the year 1800.
In China, the Siku Quanshu is completed, the largest literary compilation in China's history (surpassing the Yongle Encyclopedia of the 15th century). The books are bound in 36,381 volumes (册) with more than 79,000 chapters (卷), comprising about 2.3 million pages, and approximately 800 million Chinese characters.
December 1782:
The Montgolfier brothers first test fly a hot air balloon in France; It's demonstration is witness by reporters and the UAS ambassador to France, whom writes back of the marvelous invention. The report is read by President Franklin who has the event along with other recent scientific discoveries published in his papers. He puts forth a proposal to congress that the UAS should form its own government funded scientific societies and institutions.
While many in congress agree with the idea in principle, some express concern over the crossover between Frabklin's presidential duties and that of his private businesses such as the newspapers he has oft used to push particular agendas, especially after it was revealed one of the radical equality for all seekers was allowed to publish an opinion piece in some of his papers.
January 1783:
The UAS ratifies trade treaties with and receives loans from the United Netherlands.
February 1783:
Calabrian earthquakes: The first of a sequence of five earthquakes strikes
Calabria, Italy (February 5–7, March 1 & 28), leaving 50,000 dead.
March 1783:
Peace and Commercial Treaty signed between the UAS and Sweden.
April 1783:
The Crimean Khanate, is annexed by the Russian Empire of Catherine the Great.
June 8th, 1783:
The volcano
Laki in Iceland begins an 8-month eruption, starting the chain of natural disasters known as the
Móðuharðindin, killing tens of thousands throughout Europe, including up to 33% of Iceland's population, and causing widespread famine. It has been described as one of "the greatest environmental catastrophes in European history
.
A fleet of UAS merchant ships passing by witness the start of this event
, and lend what assistance they can to nearby coastal dwellers
, and obtain greater reports of the catastrophe
. The fleet returns to Halifax a month later and 10 days late carrying a few dozen Icelandic refugees. The papers reports the story of events from the perspective of many witnesses and the survivors. The tales are moving enough that a number of New England philanthropists and curious adventure seekers, and Christian missionaries seeking to lend aid, fund several return trips to Iceland. The numerous reports also intrigue American scientists who study the phenomenon over the next few months. The series of event becomes one of the first recorded well developed forays into geological and volcanology sciences.
July 1783:
The
Treaty of Georgievsk is signed between
Imperial Russia and the
Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti, making
Georgia a
protectorate of Russia.
August, 1783:
Mount Asama, the most active
volcano in
Japan, begins a climactic eruption, killing roughly 1,400 people directly and exacerbating a famine, resulting in another 20,000 deaths.
Jacques Charles and
Les Frères Robert launch the world's first hydrogen-filled balloon,
Le Globe, in Paris.
The
1783 Great Meteor passes on a 1,000-mile track across the North Sea, Great Britain and France, prompting scientific discussion.
November 29, 1783:
New Jersey earthquake: An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude strikes New Jersey.
December 1783:
As a result of the aid and communication given to Iceland, treaties of trade and friendship are signed between the UAS and the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway, and provides an exception for the UAS for the
Danish–Icelandic Trade Monopoly. (and to allow support in fighting the famine)
Numerous Icelandic peoples also choose to escape the Mist Hardships by immigrating to Nova Scotia and "Northern Massachusetts" (Maine)
(Seriously the Laki Eruption had huge knock on effect for the world. Read
this an think about how that will make 1784 go.)