What occurred during the Boston Massacre?

• A. A peaceful march resulted in no injuries.
• B. A mob attacked guards; shots were fired; five people died.
• C. British soldiers captured the town.
• D. A ship was torched in the harbor.

Answer: (B)

The event centers on a violent confrontation between a crowd and British soldiers that escalated into deadly gunfire, highlighting mounting colonial anger toward British authority in the streets of Boston. It happened when a hostile mob gathered around soldiers guarding the customs house, taunting and throwing objects. In the ensuing tension, the soldiers opened fire into the crowd, killing five colonists and injuring others. This description—an attacked guards, shots fired, and five deaths—best captures what occurred and why the incident became a powerful symbol of colonial resistance. It is not a peaceful march with no injuries, nor a scenario where British troops captured the town, nor any ship being torched.