Dean Hamilton, age 17, of Portland, Ore., for his question:

WHT WAS THE PEACE OF UTRECHT?

The Peace of Utrecht was one of the greatest international peace settlements of history. The conference opened in Utrecht, Holland, in 1712, at the end of the War of the Spanish Succession. In America, this was known as Queen Anne's War, one of the French and Indian Wars. Representatives from all major European nations met to discuss peace terms. They signed agreements at Utrecht in 1713.

The Peace of Utrecht made many changes in the map of Europe and tried to establish a balance of power. It also helped to increase Great Britain's colonial and commercial power.

The treaty recognized the French Duke of Anjou as the King of Spain, but France agreed that Spain and France would never be united under one ruler. Great Britain acquired Gibraltar and the island of Minorca from Spain.

In America, France ceded Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the Hudson Bay Territory to Great Britain but retained New France (Quebec).