What Happened on December 25th, 1776?
Topic: The Liberty Classroom
The Night Everything Changed
In December of 1776, the American cause was dying.
Not struggling.
Not set back.
Dying.
The Continental Army was freezing, starving, unpaid, and dissolving before George Washington’s eyes. Enlistments were set to expire in a matter of days. Desertions were constant, and morale was nearly gone.
Yet, on that cold, moonless Christmas night, Washington made one of the most audacious decisions in American history: he ordered his men to cross the ice-choked Delaware River and march toward the enemy for a surprise attack that would forever change the course of history as we know it.
At the time, it was not a moment of triumph.
It was a moment of desperation.
But that’s exactly why it matters now.
Do You Know How Close the Americans Came to Losing?
By December of that pivotal year, the optimism of July was long gone.
The Declaration of Independence had been signed barely five months earlier, but the British response had been swift and crushing. After defeats in New York, Long Island, and Manhattan, Washington’s army was forced into a difficult retreat across New Jersey, pursued closely by British forces.
Congress had fled Philadelphia, and public confidence was collapsing.
Many colonists—once sympathetic to independence—were reconsidering their supportive stance. Some pledged loyalty back to the Crown. Others simply gave up hope that the colonies could ever defeat the greatest military power on earth.
In his work, The American Crisis, Thomas Paine would write:
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 their 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. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but ‘to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER’ and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.
The British believed the rebellion was nearly over.
But as history shows us, they were wrong.
It is difficult for us, looking backward from a nation that ultimately survived, to grasp just how close the American experiment came to ending before it truly began.
Washington’s Army Was Barely an Army
What many Americans don’t realize is just how dire the conditions were on Christmas Eve.
Washington commanded fewer than 6,000 effective troops, many of whom lacked:
adequate winter clothing
proper footwear
sufficient food
ammunition
Some wrapped rags around their feet because they had no shoes. Bloody footprints marked their marches. Worse still, most enlistments expired on December 31, 1776—just days away. Washington knew that if nothing decisive happened before the new year, the army might simply vanish.
This was not a calculated gamble to gain advantage. It was a decisive effort to keep the cause alive.
How Complacency Became the British Weakness
Across the Delaware River sat Trenton, New Jersey, held by roughly 1,500 Hessian troops—German mercenaries hired by the British.
They were not expecting an attack.
Why would they?
It was Christmas night
The weather was brutal
The river was nearly impassable
Washington’s army was considered broken
British commanders believed no sane general would attempt such a crossing.
Washington understood something they did not:
when a cause is on the brink of extinction, sanity looks different.
The Crossing Was a Miracle in Itself
The Delaware River was swollen with ice floes and driven by freezing rain and snow. Boats had to be maneuvered silently through darkness while carrying men, horses, and artillery.
The army was behind schedule, and the crossing took far longer than planned. By the time they landed, many officers urged Washington to turn back, but he refused.
There is no record of a grand speech that night—only unwavering resolve. With no promise of success and no margin for retreat, the decision was made to press on.
A Small Victory with Enormous Consequences
The Americans surprised the Hessians at dawn making the Battle of Trenton itself short. With a fight that lasted less than an hour, nearly the entire enemy force was captured. On paper, it was a modest military victory.
In reality, it changed everything.
The Continental Army’s morale was restored
Enlistments were renewed
Public confidence surged
Foreign observers took renewed interest
The myth of British invincibility was shattered
Most importantly, the American people remembered that the cause was still alive. Sometimes history does not turn on massive battles—but on symbolic victories that revive belief.
What Can We Learn as We Look Toward 2026
Many Americans today feel conflicted.
Some are encouraged by political wins and reforms. Others—perhaps many—are tired. Disillusioned. Cynical. Wondering whether continuing the fight is worth the cost.
Washington’s crossing reminds us of something essential:
The fight for liberty is not sustained by comfort or certainty—but by conviction.
In 1776, there was no guarantee of victory. No assurance history would vindicate them. No promise the sacrifices would pay off.
All there was… was duty.
And the belief that surrendering the fight would cost more than continuing it.
Hope Is Often Born in the Dark
The crossing of the Delaware on Christmas night did not end the war.
It did not resolve every conflict.
It did not remove every doubt.
In fact, victory was still 8 long years away.
But what it did was keep the flame alive long enough for victory to become possible.
And THAT is the lesson for us.
If you feel weary, you are not weak.
If you feel frustrated, you are not faithless.
If you feel tempted to disengage, you are not alone.
But remember: liberty has always depended on those who refused to quit when quitting made sense.
Washington crossed not because success was assured—but because failure was unacceptable.
Duty Is Still Ours
As we move toward 2026, the work of rebuilding liberty is not glamorous. It is often thankless. It is rarely immediate.
But history reminds us:
Christmas Eve victories are often invisible until years later.
Stand firm.
Stay engaged.
Teach the next generation.
Build locally.
Act faithfully.
The river may be cold.
The night may be dark.
But dawn has come before—and it can come again.
Merry Christmas, my Patriot friends!
Join us for Rebuilding Liberty on January 12th at 8pm ET.
It’s a free, 4-week class held every Monday night on Zoom. If you’ve felt discouraged or simply want to better understand our founding and your role today, I’d love to have you join us.
Merry Christmas, Toni, to you and your family! 👍🚂🇺🇸🎄