Boston Under Siege

Update: 2025-04-20

Description

From the moment the April 19, 1775 battle of Lexington and Concord ended until the British gave up and evacuated the city in March 1776, Boston was the epicenter of the American War for Independence. After eleven months of under siege, Boston was effectively independent after the British evacuation, never being under serious threat of re-invasion after March 17, 1776. Unfortunately, the Siege of Boston started and ended before independence was declared in Philadelphia, so it’s usually forgotten in our retelling of our national origin story. For this week’s show, let’s linger on the siege to see how it came together 250 years ago this week, how colonial Bostonians decided whether they should stay in their homes or flee to the countryside, and where the battle lines were drawn upon the map of modern Boston. Over the course of the coming year, we’ll return to the siege of Boston several times to talk about battles and skirmishes, heroes and traitors, and generals and everyday Bostonians, but for now I want to set the stage with an episode about the early days of the siege in April and May of 1775.

Full show notes: http://HUBhistory.com/325/

Support us: http://patreon.com/HUBhistory/

Boston Under Siege

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A view of Boston from Beacon Hill
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A view of Downtown Boston
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British map of the American lines
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Map detail of American lines at Prospect Hill
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Sketch of American defensive lines in Cambridge
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Fortifications at Boston Neck
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New fortifications at Boston Neck
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Fortifications at Boston Neck
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British fortification on Beacon Hill
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