The term "Boston Massacre" refers to a tragic event that occurred on March 5, 1770, in Boston, Massachusetts, where British soldiers shot and killed five colonists during a confrontation. Tensions had been escalating between the colonists and British authorities due to the presence of British troops in the city and various taxes imposed on the colonies, such as the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. The incident fueled anti-British sentiments and became a pivotal moment in American revolutionary propaganda. The Boston Massacre symbolized the growing rift between Britain and the American colonies, ultimately contributing to the push for independence.