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US and Siam sign the Treaty of Amity and Commerce establishing friendly relations and commerce between the two states

The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between His Majesty the Magnificent King of Siam and the United States of America, or Roberts Treaty of 1833, was the first treaty between Siam and the United States.

The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between His Majesty the Magnificent King of Siam and the United States of America, or Roberts Treaty of 1833, was the first treaty between Siam and the United States. It was also the first treaty that the U.S. had with an Asian nation.

It established peaceful and friendly relations and commerce between the two states that have generally persisted since then. The treaty was signed on 20 March 1833 and, after ratification by both parties, it entered into force 14 April 1836. The treaty is no longer in force, having been replaced starting in 1921 by a series of subsequent treaties, but the successor treaty signed in 1966 remains in force. The 2017 edition of Treaties in Force, the official U.S.

Historical Significance

The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between His Majesty the Magnificent King of Siam and the United States of America, or Roberts Treaty of 1833, was the first treaty between Siam and the United States.

Events Before

  1. Romantic ballet "La Sylphide" by Filippo Taglioni premieres at the Opéra de Paris

    Romantic ballet "La Sylphide" by Filippo Taglioni premieres at the Opéra de Paris

  2. British Parliament, led by Charles Grey, passes the Reform Act, introducing wide-ranging changes to the electoral system

    British Parliament, led by Charles Grey, passes the Reform Act, introducing wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales, increasing the electorate from about 500,000 voters to 813,000

  3. Felix Mendelssohn's concert overture "Hebrides" premieres in London, England

    The Hebrides (German: Die Hebriden) is a concert overture that was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1830, revised in 1832, and published the next year as Mendelssohn's Op. 26.

  4. First US Democratic National Convention is held in Baltimore

    The 1832 Democratic National Convention was held from May 21 to May 23, 1832, in Baltimore, Maryland.

  5. Source of Mississippi River discovered by American geographer Henry Schoolcraft

    Henry Rowe Schoolcraft (March 28, 1793 – December 10, 1864) was an American geographer, geologist, and ethnologist, noted for his early studies of Native American cultures, as well as for his 1832...

Events After

  1. German Zollverein (Customs Union) comes into effect

    The Zollverein, or German Customs Union, was a coalition of German states formed to manage tariffs and economic policies within their territories.

  2. Religious leader Brigham Young (32) weds herbalist Mary Ann Angell (27)

    Religious leader Brigham Young (32) weds herbalist Mary Ann Angell (27)

  3. Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into effect, abolishing slavery across the British Empire

    Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into effect, abolishing slavery across the British Empire

  4. American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison (28) weds Helen Eliza Benson (22), in Boston, Massachusetts

    American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison (28) weds Helen Eliza Benson (22), in Boston, Massachusetts

  5. US Congressman and future US President Franklin Pierce (29) weds Jane Appleton (28) at her grandparents' home in Amherst

    US Congressman and future US President Franklin Pierce (29) weds Jane Appleton (28) at her grandparents' home in Amherst, New Hampshire

More from the 1830s

Slave plantation owner Charles Farquharson begins his diary at Prospect Hill Plantation, Watlings Island (San Salvador),

Slave plantation owner Charles Farquharson begins his diary at Prospect Hill Plantation, Watlings Island (San Salvador), the only plantation diary to survive from the Bahamas (ends Dec 1832) [1]

Curaçao census: 2,602 white people, 6,531 free people, 5,894 enslaved people

Curaçao census: 2,602 white people, 6,531 free people, 5,894 enslaved people

German Zollverein (Customs Union) comes into effect

The Zollverein, or German Customs Union, was a coalition of German states formed to manage tariffs and economic policies within their territories.

First official horse race in South Australia takes place in Adelaide

Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the fifth-most populous city in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on March 20, 1833?
The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between His Majesty the Magnificent King of Siam and the United States of America, or Roberts Treaty of 1833, was the first treaty between Siam and the United States. It was also the first treaty that the U.S. had with an Asian nation.
Why is US and Siam sign the Treaty of Amity and Commerce establishing friendly relat... significant?
The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between His Majesty the Magnificent King of Siam and the United States of America, or Roberts Treaty of 1833, was the first treaty between Siam and the United States.

Explore More

March 20 in HistoryYear 1833