American militia at Fort Sullivan repulsed a British naval assault on Charleston, South Carolina, delivering an early morale-boosting victory for the Revolution.

The Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the thirteen American colonies' break from Britain.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to publish the full text of the Declaration of Independence, spreading news of the break with Britain.

Philadelphia's bell atop the State House rang out as the Declaration of Independence was publicly read for the first time to an assembled crowd.

Colonel John Nixon gave the Declaration of Independence its first public reading in Philadelphia's State House Yard, four days after adoption.

British forces under General William Howe routed George Washington's Continental Army in the largest battle of the Revolutionary War, nearly destroying the fledgling American cause.

George Washington led 2,400 Continental Army troops across the ice-choked Delaware River in a night crossing that preceded the attack on Trenton.