Battle+of+Bunker+Hill

= = =June 17, 1775-1783=

On the morning of June 17, 1775, at the Boston Harbor on Breed's Hill in Massachusetts, the Battle of Bunker Hill started. Breed's Hill is located on the Charlestown peninsula across from Boston. It was a fierce battle between British soldiers and American Patriots. The main people that were involved were Thomas Gage, William Howe, and Joseph Warren. There were several events that had led up to the Battle of Bunker Hill. For more than 10 years before, American colonists had been protesting British tax laws. From 1765-1775 there were some important events that occured that were major reasons why the Battle of Bunker Hill started. In 1765: The Stamp Act had passed. In 1767: The Townsend Duties were passed. In 1768: British troops went to Boston. In 1770: The British Massacre leaves five colonists dead. In 1773: Colonists dumped crates of tea into Boston Harbor at what was later called the Boston Tea Party. Lastly in 1775: April 19, the battle of Lexington and Concord; April 20, the siege of Boston begins, June 17, the Battle of Bunker Hill. These were the events that led up to the colonists starting the Battle. These events happened because the colonists wanted a voice in the new laws and the new taxes that affected them. They were angry with the British army for the recent American deaths at the battles at Lexington and Concord. All this anger led to the beginning of what we know as the Revolutionary War, or the American War of Independence. Thousands of American soldiers went to war for more than eight years before Great Britain gave up ruling the colonies. The Battle of Bunker Hill marked a turning point for the colonists. They realized that the British were willing to kill them to prove that Great Britain ruled the colonies. They also realized that they could fight back and win. The British had lost many soldiers, including over 90 officers. The colonists had lost, but still had hoped that King George would listen to their demands. They showed the British that they could fight and live well on their own. For more than eight more years, American soldiers went off to war before Great Britain had given up their ruling of the colonies. If the Battle of Bunker Hill never took place, we would most likely still be under British control and fighting for our freedom.

Bibliography:
Purcell, L. Edward, and Sarah J. Purcell. "Battle of Bunker Hill." //Encyclopedia of Battles in North America, 1517 to 1916//. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2000. //American History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE52&iPin=bna047&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 10, 2012).

Englar, Mary. //The Battle of Bunker Hill//. Minneapolis, Minn.: Compass Point Books, 2007. Print.

Book, Inc. //World Book 2005 (B:2)//. 2005. ed. Chicago: World Book, Inc, 2005. Print.

Media Citations:

'Battle of Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston." //American History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE52&iPin=AMHC4302&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 13, 2012).

"Battle of Bunker Hill." Frank C. King. 1875. Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division. Print. //American History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=AHI1327&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 13, 2012).

SC3 Historical Thinking Model: This author is Frank C. King and he is part of the Library of Congress. This was painted in 1775, which was when The Battle of Bunker Hill started. At this time, the colonists were angry about the things that Great Britain had done. They didn't like that they had to pay the taxes to King George. Prior to this painting there were victories at Lexington and Concord. After this painting the American Revolutionary War had started. This painting is showing the Battle of Bunker Hill in progress. I see soldiers, a bomb blowing up, and part of a boat that looks like another country that is joining in on the battle. The information portrayed in this painting is similar to what we have been learning about because the Battle of Bunker Hill was between two countries; American colonists and British soldiers that resolved their differences through this battle.