微小，但却改变了美国独立战争发展轨迹的一场胜利

美国历史上的今天

特伦顿战役

每天一篇《美国历史上的今天》，提炼和总结历史在今天发生的重要事件：谁，在哪里，什么时候，做了什么，这件事为什么重要、以及在写关于什么主题的论文的时候可以作为潜在论据引用。

每天半分钟，轻松积累史实

为AP历史拿5分打下坚实基础

When: December 26, 1776

What: General George Washington won the first major U.S. victory at Trenton, New Jersey.

Why significant: The Battle of Trenton was a small but pivotal battle during the American Revolutionary War. Although the victory was minor from a strategic perspective, it bore tremendous significance for the Continental Army. The Continental Army just suffered several defeats, and so the morale in the army was low. Washington needed a success before his solders’ enlistments expired on December 31. Without a dramatic upswing in morale, he was likely to lose his soldiers and unable to recruit new men to replace them. The victories at Trenton and a few days later at Princeton proved that the Continental Army was indeed capable of victory and worthy of support. The dramatic victory inspired Washington's soldiers to serve longer and attracted new recruits to the ranks. Thereafter the Battle of Trenton became emblematic of the American Patriots’ surprising ability to overcome the tremendous odds they faced in challenging the powerful British empire.

The image of ragged farm-boy Patriots defeating drunken foreign mercenaries has become ingrained in the American imagination. 

Tags: American Revolution, George Washington, Battle of Trenton, Patriot