Evacuation Day, March 17, 1776: Home

March 17, 1776 is a significant day in American history.  This is the day that the British evacuated Boston to regroup in their war efforts.  

After the battles at Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill the year before, the British laid siege to Boston.  George Washington placed cannon on top of Dorchester Heights which when seen by the British got them to evacuate.  

1776

January 1 - Lord Dunmore has Norfolk burned
January 10 - Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
February 27 - Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
March 17 - British evacuate Boston
June 4 - 28 - Clinton fails to take Charleston, South Carolina
July 2 - Congress adopts Independence
July 4 - Congress adopts Declaration of Independence
August 27 - Battle of Long Island
September 11 - Peace conference on Staten Island; Franklin, Adams and Edward Rutledge meet Admiral Howe
September 15 - British forces land on Manhattan
September 20-21 - New York fire
October 28 - Battle of White Plains; American flotilla defeated on Lake Champlain
November 16 - British take Fort Washington
November 20 - British take Fort Lee
December 26 - Battle of Trenton

Timeline citation:

Allison, Robert. American Revolution. Cary, GB: Oxford University Press, USA, 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 24 March 2016.

March 17 used to be a holiday at Bunker Hill Community College, but it is not any longer.