Final answer:
The riot in New England that ended with the death of five people is known as the Boston Massacre, an event which significantly escalated anti-British sentiments and united colonists.
Step-by-step explanation:
The riot in New England that ended with the death of five people is known as the Boston Massacre. This pivotal event occurred on March 5, 1770, when British soldiers, taunted by an angry mob of colonists who threw snowballs, rocks, and sticks, fired their muskets into the crowd. Among those killed was Crispus Attucks, a man of Wampanoag and African descent, who became the first official casualty in the American bid for independence. Following this tragedy, the Sons of Liberty propagated the image of the British soldiers as murderers, bolstering anti-British sentiments and uniting the colonists in their fight against perceived tyrannous governance.