(Saturday, September 26, 1777; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — British troops marched into Philadelphia today and occupied the city, having forced the Second Continental Congress, meeting in the Pennsylvania State House (later called Independence Hall), to flee some days before. Continue reading British troops occupy Philadelphia during American Revolution 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 26 1777) →

Video: 'The Battle of Bennington Part I'

(Saturday, August 16, 1777, 3:00 p.m. local time; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — American forces won the Battle of Bennington today in Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles from its namesake Bennington, Vermont, what was considered a turning point of the Revolutionary War. Continue reading Americans win Battle of Bennington 240 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 16 1777) →

Video: 'Women's History Minute: Sybil Ludington'

(Saturday, April 26, 1777, 9:00 p.m. local time; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — 16-year-old Sybil Ludington, the eldest child of Col. Henry Ludington, a militia commander in Dutchess County, New York, rode her horse into the night tonight to alert her father’s men of the approach of British regular troops who were sacking Danbury, Connecticut. Continue reading Sybil Ludington, 16, rides 40 miles to alert American colonial forces 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 26 1777) →

Video: 'Battles of the American Revolution Battle of Princeton'

(Friday, January 3, 1777; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — The Continental Army, commanded by General George Washington, defeated British forces today in The Battle of Princeton near Princeton, New Jersey. Continue reading Americans defeat British forces at Princeton 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1777) →

Video: 'The Crossing Part 4 (Crossing The Delaware)'

(Wednesday, December 25, 1776, 6:00 p.m. local time; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — General George Washington and his 2,600 troops marched to McKonkey’s Ferry, crossed the Delaware River tonight and landed on the New Jersey bank at 3 a.m. the following morning for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey. Continue reading Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River 240 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 25 1776) →

Video: 'Thomas Paine "The American Crisis" Literary animation'

(Thursday, December 19, 1776; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — Thomas Paine published his first American Crisis essay today in The Pennsylvania Journal, writing: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Continue reading ‘These are the times that try men’s souls,’ writes Thomas Paine 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1776) →

Video: 'Fort Washington, 1776'

(Saturday, November 16, 1776, 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. local time; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — British and Hessian units today captured Fort Washington near the north end of Manhattan Island in New York in one of the worst Patriot defeats of the American Revolutionary War. Continue reading British capture Fort Washington from Patriots 240 years ago at this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 16 1776) →

Video: ‘Nathan Hale, American Spy… What His Sacrifice Means on Our Independence Day’

(Sunday, September 22, 1776, 11:00 a.m. local time; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — Nathan Hale, a 21-year-old American soldier and spy for the Continental Army, was executed this morning without trial one day after being captured by the British in New York City.

His last words before being hanged were purported to be “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”