The Boston Massacre was triggered primarily by the presence of British soldiers in Boston, which escalated tensions between the colonists and British authorities.

In March 1770, a confrontation arose as a group of colonists began mocking and throwing snowballs at a British sentry. This led to a chaotic scene where British troops fired into the crowd, killing five colonists. The event galvanized anti-British sentiments and propaganda, serving as a significant catalyst for the American Revolution and highlighting colonial grievances against British rule.