The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War commemorated by America's 250th anniversary.
The battle was fought on June 17, 1775, on the Charlestown Peninsula near Boston. Although commonly called the Battle of Bunker Hill, most of the fighting occurred on nearby Breed’s Hill, where colonial forces built defensive works overlooking Boston Harbor.
British troops ultimately captured the American position, making the battle a British tactical victory. However, the British suffered heavy casualties, and the colonial resistance demonstrated that the rebellion could field determined forces against professional troops.
The engagement occurred nearly a year before the Declaration of Independence. That timing matters: the Revolutionary War began before the colonies formally announced independence. The better-known phrase “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” is traditionally associated with the battle, though its exact attribution remains disputed.