Week 9: A Christmas Attack?! What the...?


Washington Crossing the Delaware painted by...?

After a year of defeats and setbacks, and being forced to abandon posts in New York, Washington knew he needed to rally his troops as 1776 came to a close. Many of his soldiers' enlistments were set to expire at midnight on December 31st, which meant that the men--exhausted, hungry, cold and weary of losing to the redcoats--would be free to go back home. He came up with a bold idea: attack the Hessian (German mercenaries) battalion encampment in Trenton, New Jersey at dawn the day after Christmas! No one would expect it! Washington ordered his men to carefully and quietly cross the icy Delaware river, guns, horses, cannon and all, all through Christmas night. The river was so treacherous and the weather so bad that the Americans got dangerously behind schedule, but just after 8:00am on December 26th, the Americans won their much-needed victory at Trenton within an hour, taking 900 Hessians prisoner, as well as a good supply of weapons. What a boost to American spirits!

Just before the attack on Trenton--and just in time to inspire the men to fight another day--these stirring words penned by Thomas Paine were published in the Pennsylvania Journal: "These are the times that try men's souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands 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." 

With the help of Thomas Paine's American Crisis essay and the victory at Trenton, many men reenlisted for another year, and Washington was able to carry on the fight for independence.

ASSIGNMENTS:

WRITING: If you haven't already done so, thoroughly read The American Crisis #1 by Thomas Paine, and 1) highlight, look up and write down the definitions of unfamiliar words, and 2) highlight sections that you find particularly interesting, inspiring or meaningful to you. 

After you have done all that, Choose at least one quote from the American Crisis and explain what it means to you. Also, explain how the chosen quote(s) may have affected the American people in 1776.

PRESENTATIONS: Thank you, Kellen, for teaching us about Betsy Ross, one of the lesser-known heroes of the Revolution!  Next week, we will be pleased to hear from Sarah on the Weaponry and Battle Tactics of the Revolutionary Period, and from Liam on the Role of the Navy during the Revolutionary War. It will be interesting to compare the American navy to the British navy at that time!

DEVOTIONAL: Kellen

AWARD REQUIREMENTS: Great job to all of you who are passing off sections of the Declaration of Independence! I'm so proud of you, and encourage you to keep up your efforts! It's not too late to get started, either; we have about 8 weeks left before the end of the semester--that's only 2-3 sections per week, but you can really double down on it over Christmas break. (Check back to the Week #6 blog post for some songs that might help with your memorization.) And, I promise that if you do the journal, you will understand the words, which will make them so much easier to memorize! (And, anyone who completes the journal can join in the pizza party/movie or game night/field trip to celebrate!)

READING: Keep working on Being George Washington by Glenn Beck, due January 13th.


CANDY TRIVIA: 

Give the name of the artist who painted the picture above, and tell where it can be found today.

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