The Passage of the Delaware was painted by Thomas Sully. It was painted in 1819. The crossing of the Delaware took place on December 25-26 1776. George Washington lead the attack and decided to surprise attack the Hessians who were not expecting an attack of any sort. The crossing of the river itself was extremely daring and a hard task to complete. Washington was only playing off of a gut instinct and did not not know for sure how prepared the Hessians really were. Thankfully they were not prepared at all and the colonists attacked worked. The painting itself shows how chaotic the moment was as horses are on their hind legs and people seem to be moving every which way. It also looks to be very cold as a branch can be seen with no leaves on it and the ground is covered with ice and snow. Washington is in the middle of the photo and this shows the significance he had in the journey. He is also the only one riding a white horse which makes him stand out even more. Washington also is the only one who can be seen in his military uniform. This photo displays and reflects America’s identity because the journey of the Delaware was a challenging journey and one that many people advised against however it was the fight and willingness to succeed that pushed America across the delaware and though the ice. This moment is a defining moment in American history because it shows how courageous americans are.