Why was Washington crossing the Delaware river important to the AMerican Revolution?

Question

(referring obviously to his crossing on christmas night 1776)

I did read my history book but it only mentions what they did, not why or why it was important. That's why I'm asking for clarification.

Answer 1

Washington, Greene, Lee and their remaining army had just been defeated in New York, Fort Lee, Fort Washington and New Jersey. Falsely assuming that the Brits were now on their way to Philadelphia to capture the capital, Washington ordered his army to cross the Delaware onto the Pennsylvania side before the Brits got there.

After several weeks of no activity from the British and after receiving news that Howe and Cornwallis had simply went on vacation for the holidays (Howe to NY and Cornwallis to London), Washington took this opportunity to cross back over the Delaware to fight the Hessians at Trenton. The Hessians were left to guard the town of Trenton by the British generals. However, upon the surprise attack by Washington, the Hessians were slaughtered in a matter of minutes. This helped turn the tide of the war and significantly boosted the morale of the otherwise beaten down American army. After Trenton, Washington went on to defeat a small British regiment in Princeton. Upon receiving the news that the American army had advanced upon New Jersey, Cornwallis was immediately ordered back to America from his vacation to deal with Washington and his "ragtag rebels".

It was several years later and after many more successful battles that Washington, Greene, and their remaining army along with the French went on to Yorktown, PA to defeat Cornwallis and eventualy surrendered in October 1781.

Thank God for divine providence!

Answer 2

It showed to the entire world that the Americans can cross rivers even on the Christmas day.

Answer 3

because until that time we were losing the war badly and he knew that over half his troops enlistments were coming to an end at the end of DEC so he need to when a victory to keep them there.

that's one reason. another reason was because the way war was fought back then was troops would bed down for the winter. and Washington went against this rule. plus the Hessian's at that time were the best troops of all Europe of that time. for him to get all his troops across and to still surprise the hissings on top of that is a miracle on its own. oh and the fact that he didn't lose any men that fight and had no wounded. the Hessian's soon pulled their troops out after that and that made it a one on one fight.
that is what makes it so important.

Answer 4

He changed into an impressive ordinary and did not favor to be a king. maximum folk were used to having a king and...what? Has it been 4 years already? 8?!! yet I beloved this guy... the european custom changed into that once you formed a rustic, you tapped into the the Aristocracy of interior sight pleasant international places to locate a king. You took a prince who did not likely have a danger at abode of turning into king. there have been those who needed him to be a king, yet he changed into sturdy with the conception of being a chief and then retiring to personal existence. THAT changed into the yank Revolution. It broke the european mould of ways a rustic must be run.

Answer 5

It caught the Brits completely by surprise

Answer 6

It was a turning point in the war .

Answer 7

Someone left the rum and eggnog on the other side.

Answer 8

Are you serious?? You might want to actually try READING your history book!