The Boston Massacre: Date, Location, Causes, and Impact

Event Summary

Date: March 5, 1770
Location: Boston, Massachusetts (King Street, now State Street)

What Happened

A confrontation between British soldiers and a colonial crowd escalated after a soldier was struck by a snowball. Shots were fired; five colonists died (Crispus Attucks among them).

Why It Matters

• Galvanized colonial opposition to British rule.
• Used as propaganda by Patriots (Paul Revere's engraving).
• Led to formation of Committees of Correspondence, unifying resistance.
• Precursor to the American Revolution.

Commemoration

Annual ceremony on March 5 at the site (Old State House). The event remains a symbol of colonial grievance and the spark of revolution.