From an institutional perspective, the years from the 1760s through the 1790s were among the most traumatic and important in the College's history. They encompass such watershed events as the presidency of John Witherspoon; the Revolutionary War and the Battle of Princeton (which involved the occupation and liberation of Nassau Hall); Nassau Hall's use as the Capitol of the Continental Congress in 1783; and much more .

From an architectural history point of view, however, the post-Revolutionary period is barren, and much of the record concerns repairs. The rebuilding took a long time. At the turn of 19th century, the Trustees were still seeking war reparations from the government.