The Battle of Bunker Hill

Why was Bunker Hill a significant battle for both sides?

Lead Up

• Fights in streets and pubs• British soldiers take jobs and houses• People become politically active• Frustrations and tensions between colonists

and English• British taxes

Map of Charlestown Peninsular

For the colonists:

• It was a provocative position• Strategic point for driving the English out of

Boston.• Perfect artillery position looking down over

Boston.• Enables a smaller scale manned attack.

For the English

• A strategic answer to the American siege of Boston

• Outer ring of protection for city of Boston.• Geographical fortification.• More land, more power.

Anti-British PropagandaTitle

“BLOODY BUTCHERY BY THE BRITISH TROOPS OR THE RUNAWAY FLIGHT OF THE

REGULARS”

Mood in Massachusetts

“It is scarcely possible to describe the zeal and military ardor which pervades new England

since the battle at Lexington.”- James Thatcher’s Military Journal

Detail of Boston Harbour and Hills and Battle Diagram

Depiction of English Lines, Killed and Wounded.

The English Approach

• The English sent their men up in long lines.• The lines went up in waves.• The first two failed.• Third was successful, but only due to the

Colonists running out of ammunition. • The English Generals were too arrogant, they had

too much faith behind the ‘English fighting man’ and underestimated the ‘Riff-raff farmers on the hill’

American Confusion in Battle

• There was no clear chain of command • Thus different orders on different parts of the

battle ground• The Bunker Hill troops did not come forward

to help the Breeds Hill troops• Contributed to the loss of the battle.

Afterwards

• Both sides exaggerated• Both sides considered themselves victorious• Americans took Bunker Hill back days later

“Bunker Hill was the beginning of the end for British North America”

Donald N. Moran