Washington Crossing the Delaware | A250 Mini Documentary

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.