"Although Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown in the Fall of 1781 marked the end of the Revolutionary War, minor battles between the British and the colonists continued for another two years. Finally, in February of 1783 George III issued his Proclamation of Cessation of Hostilities, culminating in the Peace Treaty of 1783. Signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, the agreement — also known as the Paris Peace Treaty — formally ended the United States War for Independence.
Representing the United States were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, all of whom signed the treaty.
In addition to giving formal recognition to the U.S., the nine articles that embodied the treaty: established U.S. boundaries, specified certain fishing rights, allowed creditors of each country to be paid by citizens of the other, restored the rights and property of Loyalists, opened up the Mississippi River to citizens of both nations and provided for evacuation of all British forces." http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/paris/
"...And Whereas it was Declared by the Minister Plenipotentiary of the King of Great Britain, in the Name and by the express Order of the King his Master, on the said Twentieth day of January last, that the said United States of America, their Subjects and their Possessions shall be comprised in the above mentioned Suspension of Arms, at the same Epochs, and in the same manner, as the three Crowns above mentioned, their Subjects and Possessions respectively; upon Condition that on the Part, and in the Name of the United States of America, a similar Declaration shall be Delivered, expressly Declaring their Assent to the said Suspension of Arms, and containing an Assurance of the most perfect Reciprocity on their Part:...: From King George's Proclamation of the Cessation of Hostilities (ceasefire) between England, France, Spain, and the United States.) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/proc1783.asp
Britain was not recognizing the FORM of government of the United States in the treaty, but the existance of the Uited States AS a government.
As the South lost, the US dictated the terms. As has been said before on this board, the Confederate GOVERNMENT did not surrender; the ARMIES did, and were paroled. Stan