Evacuation Day refers to various historical events in different parts of the world, often commemorating the departure or retreat of military forces from a particular location. In the United States, Evacuation Day primarily refers to the evacuation of British troops from Boston during the American Revolutionary War.
On March 17, 1776, British forces under General William Howe evacuated Boston, ending an 11-month siege by American colonial forces led by General George Washington. The British withdrawal was prompted by the placement of cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking the city, which threatened their positions and made their occupation untenable.
Evacuation Day is observed as a public holiday in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, particularly in the city of Boston. It’s a day to celebrate the liberation of the city from British rule and the beginning of the end of British military presence in the American colonies.
