How did the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle end the War of the Austrian Succession?

The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed on October 18, 1748, concluded the War of the Austrian Succession through several key provisions:

• Mutual Restitution: The treaty was characterized by the mutual return of conquests, including the fortress of Louisbourg to France, Madras to England, and the barrier towns to the Dutch.1
• Habsburg Succession: The right of Maria Theresa to the Austrian lands was formally guaranteed.1
• Territorial Adjustments: Maria Theresa ceded the duchies of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla in Italy to Spain and agreed to minor frontier rectifications for Piedmont-Sardinia.12
• Prussian Gains: Although Prussia was not a party to the treaty, its conquest of Silesia was effectively solidified, significantly weakening the Habsburgs and establishing Prussia as a major rival.12

Ultimately, while the treaty prevented the dismemberment of the Habsburg monarchy, it failed to resolve underlying commercial tensions between Britain and France, providing no basis for a lasting peace.12