In the Revolutionary War, “Hessian” referred to German soldiers from various small German states—especially Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Hanau—who were hired out as auxiliary troops to fight for the British. Because so many came from Hesse, Americans used “Hessian” as a catch‑all term for these German auxiliaries.
German soldiers fought for the British because Britain urgently needed more trained troops and turned to German princes, who routinely “rented out” their armies for money and political influence. Rulers in states like Hesse-Kassel signed contracts to supply entire units as auxiliary forces to Britain; individual soldiers were usually serving in their home armies and were sent overseas by their rulers, not hired one‑by‑one as freelance mercenaries.
“Patriots” were American colonists who rejected British rule and supported independence during the Revolution, in contrast to Loyalists who stayed loyal to the British Crown. The Continental Army was the full‑time national army created by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 under George Washington; it drew volunteers from all the colonies, was intended to serve for set enlistment terms, and operated under a unified command. This differed from local colonial militias, whose part‑time citizen‑soldiers mainly defended their own communities and served more irregularly.
“America 250” (often written America250) is the national initiative to commemorate the United States Semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of American independence, marked by the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The main anniversary date is July 4, 2026, but the program is a multi‑year commemoration around that 250‑year milestone.
Washington’s night crossing of the Delaware and the surprise victory at Trenton reversed a long string of American defeats, delivered a badly needed battlefield success, and captured about 900 Hessian troops. This small but dramatic win sharply boosted morale in the Continental Army and among civilians, encouraged many soldiers to reenlist when their terms were about to expire, and showed that the Patriots could defeat professional enemy forces—making Trenton a key turning point that kept the Revolutionary War effort alive.
In this statement, the “we” making the vow refers to the sitting U.S. presidential administration speaking in the collective voice of the White House—here, President Donald J. Trump and his administration—pledging to continue defending the Republic and its freedoms. The message is issued as a "Briefings & Statements" item by The White House, part of the Executive Office of the President, on WhiteHouse.gov.