The Boston Massacre, which occurred on March 5, 1770, served as a crucial catalyst for the American Revolution by heightening tensions between American colonists and British authorities. The incident involved British soldiers firing into a crowd, killing five colonists, which was portrayed as a brutal act of oppression by colonial leaders like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. This event galvanized anti-British sentiment and was used as a propaganda tool to unite colonists against British rule. The outrage that followed contributed significantly to the growing revolutionary fervor, ultimately leading to organized resistance and the push for independence as colonists rallied around the cause of liberty.