2. 1776  1776 was not a good year for the American cause  6 weeks after the Declaration of Independence was signed, Continental Army was defeated at Long Island  George Washington was forced to surrender New York City  The Continental Army was in retreat across New Jersey trying to escape into Pennsylvania

3. The British Plans  With New York secure, Britain prepares to launch the final assault on the rebel strongholds:  6,000 soldiers to attack Boston  10,000 to secure Western New York  8,000 to cross New Jersey and invade Philadelphia, the capital  Enlists Hessian (German) Mercenaries to help carry out the attack  Britain’s strategy, if carried out, will end the war in 1777

4. The Continental Army  Soldiers desert Washington after the loss of New York  The army dwindled to 5000 soldiers  Many of their contracted enlistments were up on New Year’s Day  People question whether Washington is the right man for the job  Philadelphia was evacuated fearing the impending British attack  The whole revolution was on the verge of collapse

5. American Crisis  Thomas Paine writes American Crisis to inspire the Continental Army to keep fighting

6. American Crisis  “These are the times that try men’s souls: the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”  –Thomas Paine, American Crisis

7. One Last Shot  With his army collapsing, Washington risks everything on one final counterstrike  The situation is so desperate, Washington knows that he shouldn’t win, or possibly win… HE MUST WIN  Washington proposes a nighttime, sneak attack on the Hessian and British forces at Trenton, New Jersey  He MUST change tactics because the Continental Army will never win a head-on conflict with the British

8. European Strategy  Campaign Season was from April to October  Between October and March the weather was too poor to march or fight in  Armies would make camp (called winter quarters) to rest up, resupply, and train  Start fighting again in the spring  Washington proposes to launch his attack on Christmas Day

9. Victory or Death  Failure is not an option: if they lose this battle, the war is over  The army has to get across the Delaware River, into New Jersey, and march to Trenton before sunrise  Washington orders “American Crisis” read to the army before they go  Washington’s final order before the start: “Victory or Death”  11:00 pm, Christmas Night, the first boats set off…

10. Washington Crossing the Delaware River

11. Crossing the Delaware  The most famous painting of the Revolutionary War got it wrong  It was pitch black…below freezing…in the middle of a snowstorm  No one stood up in the boat  The weather was so bad it took far longer to cross the river than Washington had planned  For a few brief moments, he considered turning back

12. The March to Trenton  December 26: the last soldier crosses the river at 3:00 AM  Washington realizes he has no hope of getting to Trenton under cover of darkness  4:00 AM: The Continental Army begins its nine mile march to Trenton

13. The Times that Try Men’s Souls  The Continentals marched waist deep through snow drifts  The gunpowder got wet, meaning they would have to fight hand-to-hand with bayonets  Many soldiers did not have boots or shoes  Their feet started to bleed, turning the snow red as they left bloody footprints  Several soldiers developed frostbite  Several more laid down in the snow and froze to death from the extreme cold  Washington encouraged his men to keep marching

14. The Battle of Trenton  8:00 AM: The Continentals arrive at Trenton and surround the town  Washington gives the command to open fire  The Hessians are caught completely off-guard  By noon, Washington has his first major victory of the war in almost a year

15. The Turn of the Tide  The Continental victory at Trenton saved the American Revolution  Enlistments started to go up  Faith in Washington was restored  The Continentals showed they could beat the British regulars in a battle  Washington learns to fight the war using GUERILLA WARFARE: a hit-and-run defensive strategy that ensured the army would live to fight another day

16. Modern Warfare  The strategy for Great Britain is to force Washington into a single battle to end the war  The strategy for the Continentals is avoid, escape, and evade direct conflict at all costs  Keep the army on the run and on the move  Harass the British and cut off their supply lines  Force Britain to spend so much time, money and energy chasing that the stalemate forces them to negotiate

17. The Road Ahead  January 2, 1777: The Continentals score another decisive victory at Princeton, New Jersey  Washington now has a strategy to fight the British  He does not have the money, manpower or resources to carry it out  And the biggest battles of the Revolution are yet to come…