Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In December 1776, as the Revolutionary War teetered on the edge of collapse, Thomas Paine warned that “these are the times that try men’s souls.” British forces had driven the Continental Army out of New York and across New Jersey, enlistments were expiring, supplies were scarce, and the promise of independence declared only months earlier seemed close to slipping away. George Washington faced a stark choice: act boldly or watch the cause of liberty fall apart.
On Christmas night, Washington chose action. Battling a fierce winter storm, his army crossed the icy Delaware River and launched a surprise attack on Hessian forces at Trenton, followed days later by another victory at Princeton. These daring strikes revived American morale, preserved the Continental Army, and demonstrated that perseverance and resolve could sustain the principles of the Declaration of Independence. In the darkest days of the Revolution, Washington’s leadership helped ensure that the struggle for self-government would endure.
This A250 Mini Documentary is part of a video series presented by the Bill of Rights Institute in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. From the founding moments to movements that shaped our national identity, the A250 series highlights the pivotal people, ideas, and events that have defined the American experiment over the past two and a half centuries.
0:00 – 0:59 The Revolution on the Brink
1:00 – 1:38 Washington’s Impossible Choice at the Delaware River
1:38 – 2:19 Crossing the Delaware on Christmas Night
2:19 – 3:19 Battle of Trenton: The Turning Point of the Revolution
3:19 – 4:20 Saving the Continental Army Before Enlistments Expire
4:20 – 5:15 British Counterattack and Washington’s Night Escape
5:15 – 6:04 Princeton, Trenton, and the Survival of American Independence
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About the Bill of Rights Institute:
Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.
Official Site: billofrightsinstitute.org
Facebook: @billofrightsinstitute
Twitter: @brinstitute
Instagram: @brinstitute
BRI Educator Newsletter Sign Up Page: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/new...
In December 1776, as the Revolutionary War teetered on the edge of collapse, Thomas Paine warned that “these are the times that try men’s souls.” British forces had driven the Continental Army out of New York and across New Jersey, enlistments were expiring, supplies were scarce, and the promise of independence declared only months earlier seemed close to slipping away. George Washington faced a stark choice: act boldly or watch the cause of liberty fall apart.
On Christmas night, Washington chose action. Battling a fierce winter storm, his army crossed the icy Delaware River and launched a surprise attack on Hessian forces at Trenton, followed days later by another victory at Princeton. These daring strikes revived American morale, preserved the Continental Army, and demonstrated that perseverance and resolve could sustain the principles of the Declaration of Independence. In the darkest days of the Revolution, Washington’s leadership helped ensure that the struggle for self-government would endure.
This A250 Mini Documentary is part of a video series presented by the Bill of Rights Institute in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. From the founding moments to movements that shaped our national identity, the A250 series highlights the pivotal people, ideas, and events that have defined the American experiment over the past two and a half centuries.
0:00 – 0:59 The Revolution on the Brink
1:00 – 1:38 Washington’s Impossible Choice at the Delaware River
1:38 – 2:19 Crossing the Delaware on Christmas Night
2:19 – 3:19 Battle of Trenton: The Turning Point of the Revolution
3:19 – 4:20 Saving the Continental Army Before Enlistments Expire
4:20 – 5:15 British Counterattack and Washington’s Night Escape
5:15 – 6:04 Princeton, Trenton, and the Survival of American Independence
---
About the Bill of Rights Institute:
Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.
Official Site: billofrightsinstitute.org
Facebook: @billofrightsinstitute
Twitter: @brinstitute
Instagram: @brinstitute
BRI Educator Newsletter Sign Up Page: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/new...
