How we cite our quotes: (Article.Sentence)
Quote #1
His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America desirous of terminating the war which has unhappily subsisted between the two Countries, and of restoring upon principles of perfect reciprocity, Peace, Friendship, and good Understanding between them, have for that purpose appointed their respective Plenipotentiaries. (Intro.1)
Wait, I thought we just got done killing each other. Now we're perfect friends? Maybe these lines are more a formality than the real feelings the two countries had for each other. Still,the opening language of the Treaty sets up the rest of the text, which is all about cooperation and, most of all, "reciprocity."
Quote #2
Immediately after the ratifications of this Treaty by both parties as hereinafter mentioned, orders shall be sent to the Armies, Squadrons, Officers, Subjects, and Citizens of the two Powers to cease from all hostilities. (II.1)
It's significant that the Treaty refers to both countries as "Powers." It's a message that America is a real player on the international stage, not just a piece of meat slapped in the sandwich of trade wars between Napoleon and Britain.
Quote #3
One Commissioner shall be appointed by His Britannic Majesty and one by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and the said two Commissioners so appointed shall be sworn impartially to examine and decide upon the said claims according to such evidence as shall be laid before them on the part of His Britannic Majesty and of the United States respectively. (IV.3)
The willingness to give decision-making power to single representatives from each country shows a new willingness to cooperate on some of the issues that had contributed to the war. It shows trust, which had been sorely lacking on both sides for years.
Quote #4
And His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the United States hereby agree to refer the report or reports of the said Commissioners to some friendly Sovereign or State to be then named for that purpose (IV.8)
In the event of a failure to negotiate, the Treaty turns to international arbitration. Russia had already attempted to broker a peace between the U.S. and Britain prior to the Treaty of Ghent negotiations, and the two sides ultimately turned to the King of the Netherlands to rule on outstanding territorial disagreements (source).
Quote #5
The United States of America engage to put an end immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty to hostilities with all the Tribes or Nations of Indians with whom they may be at war at the time of such Ratification. (IX.1)
One of Britain's tactics in the war was to pit Native Americans against the United States. The Brits would have preferred America's westward expansion to stop, seeing it as a threat to the Canadian provinces. Once the war was over, the American public was revved up at the opportunity to settle the frontier. In reality, hostilities with Tribes and Nations of Indians were just beginning. Historians see the Treaty as the last time the Indians were able to act politically on their own behalf.