B2: Battle of Bunker Hill (1775)
Below is B2 level English reading task about the first major battle in the American Revolution in 1775. Good luck and enjoy!
A Brief Introduction to the Battle of Bunker Hill
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​According to Gemini Google AI
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The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major engagement of the American Revolutionary War, fought on June 17, 1775, in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Although the British forces achieved a tactical victory by capturing the ground, they suffered heavy casualties, providing a significant morale boost to the American colonists.
Key Facts
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Date: June 17, 1775.
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Location: The Charlestown Peninsula (now part of Boston), primarily on Breed's Hill, not the taller, adjacent Bunker Hill, which was the original objective.
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Commanders:
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American: Colonel William Prescott had immediate command of the troops on the hill, with overall command of the besieging forces held by General Artemas Ward.
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British: Major General William Howe led the British assault under the overall command of General Thomas Gage.
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Outcome: A British victory, but a Pyrrhic one, as their heavy losses demonstrated the American militia's capacity to stand up to regular British soldiers.
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Casualties: The British suffered over 1,000 casualties (226 killed and 828 wounded), a disproportionately high number of which were officers. The Americans sustained approximately 450 casualties (140 killed and 310 wounded).
Summary of the Battle
Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, colonial militia forces laid siege to Boston, trapping the British army inside the city. Learning that the British planned to fortify the unoccupied hills around the city, the American forces preemptively sent about 1,200 men on the night of June 16, 1775, to fortify the Charlestown Peninsula.
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By an error, the colonists under Colonel William Prescott established their main position, a strong earthwork or "redoubt," on the lower Breed's Hill, closer to Boston, rather than Bunker Hill.
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At dawn on June 17, the British discovered the new fortification and began a naval bombardment. General Howe then launched a frontal assault with 2,400 British regulars across the Charles River. The Americans, who were low on ammunition and famously instructed to hold their fire until they could see "the whites of their eyes," repulsed the first two British attacks with devastating musket volleys.
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On the third assault, with the Americans nearly out of gunpowder and lacking bayonets, the British finally overwhelmed the redoubt and forced a retreat. The British secured the peninsula, but at a tremendous cost in manpower and officer casualties, which shocked the British command and discouraged future frontal attacks against entrenched positions.
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Legacy
The Battle of Bunker Hill had major political and psychological consequences. It proved to the American colonies that their militia could fight effectively against the well-trained British Army, boosting morale and encouraging further resistance. The heavy British losses made any hope of reconciliation between the Crown and the colonies nearly impossible and convinced the British of the need for a large army and foreign auxiliary troops to suppress the rebellion.
Today, the 221-foot-tall Bunker Hill Monument stands on Breed's Hill, a focal point for commemorating the battle and its legacy.
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Quiz 1.0 ---> Gemini Google AI
Battle of Bunker Hill Quiz
Directions: Read each question carefully and select the best answer from the options provided.
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When did the Battle of Bunker Hill primarily take place?
A) June 17, 1775
B) July 4, 1776
C) April 19, 1775
D) September 3, 1783 -
Although often called the "Battle of Bunker Hill," where did the majority of the fighting actually occur?
A) Lexington
B) Concord
C) Breed's Hill
D) Faneuil Hall -
Which side won the Battle of Bunker Hill?
A) The American colonists
B) The British (British Regulars)
C) The French allies
D) It was a draw/stalemate -
What famous order is Colonel William Prescott often associated with during the battle?
A) "The British are coming!"
B) "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!"
C) "Give me liberty, or give me death!"
D) "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." -
What was the main strategic goal of the American forces in occupying the hills around Boston?
A) To capture British General Thomas Gage
B) To force a decisive peace treaty
C) To gain a commanding position to bombard the British in Boston harbor
D) To secure the area for agricultural use -
Why is the Battle of Bunker Hill often considered a 'pyrrhic victory' for the British?
A) The British inflicted minimal casualties on the Americans.
B) The battle was short, lasting only a few hours.
C) The British won the field but suffered disproportionately heavy casualties that were unsustainable long-term.
D) The battle immediately led to a British surrender of Boston. -
Who assumed command of the Continental Army shortly after the battle, arriving in Cambridge to take charge of the siege of Boston?
A) George Washington
B) Paul Revere
C) Samuel Adams
D) John Hancock
Answer Key 1.0
Answer Key
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A
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C
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B
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B
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C
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C
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A
According to Perplexity AI
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The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the first major battles of the American Revolutionary War, fought on June 17, 1775, on the Charlestown peninsula across the Charles River from Boston, Massachusetts. The British technically won the battle by driving colonial forces from their positions, but they suffered heavy casualties, so the fight became a powerful psychological and political victory for the Patriot cause.
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When and where it happened
The battle took place during the Siege of Boston, when colonial militia surrounded British forces holding the city after Lexington and Concord in April 1775. Despite the name, most of the fighting occurred on nearby Breed’s Hill, not Bunker Hill itself, both located on the Charlestown peninsula north of Boston.
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Why the battle began
Colonial leaders learned that the British planned to occupy the hills around Boston to strengthen their control, so on the night of June 16–17, 1775, Patriot forces quickly built fortifications on Breed’s Hill to threaten British positions in the city and harbor. At dawn, British commanders saw the new redoubt and decided to mount a frontal assault to dislodge the colonists and reassert military dominance.
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How the fighting unfolded
British General William Howe led roughly 2,000–2,300 redcoats in repeated uphill attacks against the colonial defenses, with naval guns and artillery supporting from the harbor. The first two assaults were bloodily repulsed when the entrenched militia held their fire until the British were at close range, but a third attack finally broke through once the colonists began to run out of ammunition and were forced into hand‑to‑hand fighting before retreating.
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Losses and outcome
By the end of the day, British troops held the Charlestown peninsula, so the result was a tactical British victory. However, British casualties were extremely high—over 1,000 killed and wounded, including many officers, compared with roughly 400–500 American casualties—showing that colonial militia could stand up to professional British soldiers.
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Why it mattered
The heavy British losses made commanders far more cautious about attacking fortified American positions, influencing strategy for the rest of the war. For the Patriots, the battle became a symbol of courage and resolve, boosting morale and convincing many colonists that independence from Britain was both possible and worth fighting for
Quiz 2.0 ---> Perplexity AI
Battle of Bunker Hill Quiz
Directions: Read each question carefully. Choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) for each item.
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The Battle of Bunker Hill took place during which larger event?
A. The French and Indian War
B. The Siege of Boston
C. The War of 1812
D. The Civil War -
On which date was the Battle of Bunker Hill fought?
A. April 19, 1775
B. July 4, 1776
C. June 17, 1775
D. September 3, 1783 -
Most of the fighting in the Battle of Bunker Hill actually occurred on
A. Bunker Hill
B. Breed’s Hill
C. Lexington Green
D. Concord Bridge -
Which side held the ground at the end of the Battle of Bunker Hill?
A. American colonists
B. French allies
C. British forces
D. Spanish forces -
Why is the Battle of Bunker Hill often considered an important moral victory for the colonists?
A. They captured Boston from the British
B. They suffered no casualties
C. They proved they could stand up to British regulars
D. They received immediate foreign aid -
What was a major problem the colonial forces faced during the battle?
A. Lack of trained officers
B. Running low on ammunition
C. Poor knowledge of the terrain
D. Harsh winter weather -
What was one key result of the heavy British casualties at Bunker Hill?
A. The British immediately surrendered
B. The British became more cautious about frontal assaults
C. The colonists abandoned the siege of Boston
D. The French withdrew their support
Answer Key 2.0
Answer Key
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B
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C
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B
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C
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C
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B
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B
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