THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775, was one of the early and significant battles of the American Revolutionary War. Despite its name, most of the fighting occurred on Breed's Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts. The battle demonstrated the resolve of the colonial forces and highlighted the intensity of the conflict between Britain and its American colonies.
Prelude to Battle:
The British aimed to secure the Charlestown Peninsula to gain control over Boston Harbor. The colonial forces, aware of this plan, moved to fortify the high ground on the night of June 16, 1775.
Under the command of Colonel William Prescott, approximately 1,200 colonial troops constructed earthen fortifications on Breed's Hill, mistakenly believing it to be Bunker Hill.
The Battle:
At dawn on June 17, British forces under Major General William Howe and Brigadier General Robert Pigot realized the colonial presence. Approximately 2,200 British soldiers prepared to assault the fortifications.
The British advanced in formation, but the colonists, under orders to hold fire until seeing "the whites of their eyes," inflicted heavy casualties with disciplined volleys. The British were forced to retreat.
A second British assault met similar resistance, with substantial British losses forcing another retreat.
Howe ordered a third, more concentrated attack. This time, British forces managed to breach the colonial lines due to the colonists' dwindling ammunition. Close combat ensued, and the British ultimately forced the colonists to retreat to Bunker Hill and then to the mainland.
Aftermath:
The British suffered over 1,000 casualties (killed and wounded), a significant loss for the time, while colonial forces had around 450 casualties.
Although a tactical victory for the British, the heavy losses they incurred boosted colonial morale and demonstrated that they could stand against the formidable British Army.
The battle showed the British that the conflict would be long and costly, and it galvanized further support for the colonial cause across the Thirteen Colonies.
Significance:
The Battle of Bunker Hill, while technically a British victory, was a strategic and moral victory for the American colonists. It proved their ability to inflict significant damage on British forces and boosted their confidence, setting the stage for future engagements in the struggle for independence.
After watching and studying and discussing what happened at the Battle of Bunker Hill, you will be able to fight in the battle and command your troops to see if you can defeat the soldiers of the British Empire.
DAY 1:
We will play the Battle of Bunker Hill using the Total War platform and decide how to use strategies in small groups to fight and hopefully defeat the British troops who far outnumber us.
DAY 2:
We will look at maps of Bunker Hill and create a 3D battle map in the classroom where we can spend an entire week fighting the battle to determine if we will be able to defeat the British troops sent against us. This will be a culmination of all we have learned, and through the use of creativity, and working together as a group, we will create something amazing, and then use it role play an intense turn-based strategy game to see if we can in fact be better than our enemy.
During this process, while you wait you turn, I will check your knowledge of facts and dates relevant to all of the key events that led up to the American Revolution.
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