The Boston Massacre, occurring on March 5, 1770, was ignited by rising tensions between American colonists and British soldiers. Colonists had become increasingly frustrated with British taxation and presence, leading to confrontations. The immediate cause was a skirmish that escalated into British soldiers firing into a crowd, killing five colonists. The effect was profound, fueling anti-British sentiment and propaganda, especially through figures like Paul Revere and Samuel Adams. It significantly unified colonists against British rule, demonstrating the volatile environment that would eventually lead to the American Revolution and a collective push for independence from oppressive governance.