On what date did the Boston Massacre occur?

The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770, in Boston, Massachusetts. British soldiers fired into a crowd during a tense confrontation, killing five colonists, including Crispus Attucks, and wounding several others.

The incident followed years of friction over British taxation, military occupation, and the presence of troops in the city. The soldiers were tried in court, and John Adams defended them; six were acquitted, while two were convicted of manslaughter and received reduced sentences.

The name “Boston Massacre” was popularized by Patriot leaders, including Samuel Adams, as political propaganda. Paul Revere's widely circulated engraving also helped shape public opinion, although it presented a simplified version of the chaotic event. The massacre intensified colonial opposition to British rule.