The historical significance of the Boston Massacre in pre-Revolutionary America lies in its role as a catalyst for revolutionary sentiment. On March 5, 1770, British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of colonists protesting British taxation and military presence, killing five individuals. This tragic event was propagandized by leaders like Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, fueling anti-British sentiment and mobilizing public opinion against British rule. It symbolized the growing frustrations of the colonists and highlighted issues of oppression and tyranny, ultimately contributing to the revolutionary fervor that led to the American Revolutionary War.