Treaty of Ghent

Today in class we went over the War of 1812, and its resolution with the Treaty of Ghent.  While we know that  the treaty basically called for an end to fighting and helped establish America as the permanent power in North America, I was curious as to what other little details the treaty stipulated.  The Treaty of Ghent, signed on the 24th of December, 1814, stipulated that:

• there be a complete peace between the United States and Britain
• all territories and possessions taken during the war must be returned (with some exceptions, see below)
• the United States' boundary will be extended 20 leagues to the east of the coast, south of Nova Scotia and north of East Florida (some exceptions, see below)
• the Passamaquoddy Islands and the Island of Grand Menan, as well as the area surrounding the Great Lakes and the River St. Croix, be surveyed by the English and Americans together, and then distributed between the two countries
• both countries have at most 120 days to return all warships and armies to their respective coasts (latitudes specified as well)
• all prisoners of war must be released once their possible accumulated debts are payed
• journals of all the surveying must be kept by both the United States and Britain, and are to be given to the President and King once complete
• the Untied States must extend a peace treaty to the Native Americans, and end all hostility towards them
• both the British and the United States' governments must try to end slavery.

Overall, the United States got to extend its power in North America a little, and the two countries promised to be peaceful to one another.  I was interested in the article that talked about ending slavery, because the treaty states that the government must try to end slavery, but says nothing of what it must accomplish.  If you want more information, or want to read the treaty for yourself, this is the website I used: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=20&page=transcript