Short Term Effects
Fortification and Battle of Dorchester Heights
- On March 2nd, Henry Knox opened fire at the British in Boston. The cannons came as a surprise to British Major General, William Howe, but was meant as a diversion, to let Brig. Gen. John Thomas' men move more cannons onto the previously unoccupied Dorchester Heights, east of Boston. Hay bales masked the cannons from being seen. The American guns at Roxbury and Howe's guns in Boston exchanged fire in Boston on March 4, which provided cover for further construction of Dorchester Heights made by the work of 2,000 men and 400 oxen. To further threaten and command the city, Knox placed more cannons at Lechmere Point and on Cobble Hill, which overlooked Charlestown.
- Neither Howe's guns in Boston nor the ones on the British Navy ships could threaten the new American fortification on Dorchester Heights. "The rebels have done more in one night than my whole Army would have done in a month," Howe said as he looked for a way out of the mess. General Howe was reluctant to throw valuable artillery away in a violent attempt to force the Americans out of Boston, but he thought it was necessary to try. A snowstorm interrupted, stopping preparations for any assault. At that point, the British General saw no option but to surrender.
Long Term Effects
- The capturing of Boston, and important city to the colonies back in 1776, helped the United States gain strength to eventually win independence and freedom from Great Britain, which helped us grow to the powerful country we are today
- Henry Knox becoming the Chief Artillery Officer and the first United States Secretary of War led to many new military ideas and many solutions to military problems (e.g. Shay's Rebellion and ideas on how to manage the military)
Signing of the Declaration of Independence