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.”

(Monday, September 9, 1776; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — The second Continental Congress officially named its new union of sovereign states the “United States” today, replacing “United Colonies.”

Video: 'Liberty - Battle of Long Island PBS' (Aug. 27, 1776, at 13:47)

(Tuesday, August 27, 1776, 1:00 a.m. local time; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — The Battle of Long Island, the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War to take place after the United States declared its independence on July 4, 1776, began today as British troops attacked American forces to gain control of the strategically important city of New York. Continue reading Battle of Long Island begins 240 years ago at this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 27 1776) →

Video: 'Sons of liberty - George Washington Reads The Declaration Of Independence HD'

(Friday, August 2, 1776; during the American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — Delegates to the Second Continental Congress meeting today in Philadelphia began attaching their signatures to the Declaration of Independence, which had been approved July 4, 1776. Continue reading Delegates begin signing U.S. Declaration of Independence 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1776) →