Session One: New Jersey: From Indifference to Independence, 1765– 1776—New Jersey lagged behind Massachusetts, Virginia, and the other colonies in moving toward independence until Princeton leaders Richard Stockton, Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, and Rev. John Witherspoon helped awaken revolutionary sentiment. Centered at Princeton’s college and First Presbyterian Church, these efforts transformed New Jersey from complacency to commitment to the Revolution.
Session Two: Occupied Princeton: Prelude to the Storm—Before the Battle of Princeton, the town endured 26 days of British occupation as soldiers looted homes and businesses, defaced sacred buildings, and terrorized residents. This session explores how Princeton came under occupation, what life was like during those weeks, and how the crisis set the stage for the coming battle.
Session Three: The Day Independence Was Saved: Princeton, January 3, 1777—After months of retreat across New York and New Jersey, George Washington’s exhausted, hungry army faced possible collapse. While Trenton restored hope, the decisive strategic victory came on the fields south of Nassau Hall at Princeton. Discover what happened and why the Battle of Princeton helped save the Revolution.

NOTE: After the class is completed, students will receive a voucher by email for a guided Battlefield tour. The voucher will be good for tours during May–August 2027.  
General George Washington Picture by John Trumbull