Final answer:
The British soldiers landed in Boston as a response to increased protests and harassment by colonists, which intensified after the implementation of the Townshend Acts. Their presence, coupled with the competition for jobs and aggressive enforcement of British laws, led to the Boston Massacre when soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five.
Step-by-step explanation:
The events leading up to the Boston Massacre were a culmination of increasing tensions between the American colonists and British authorities. Factors included the implementation of new taxes and laws such as the Townshend Acts, which imposed taxes on various goods and established commissioners to enforce British law, leading to heightened resentments and clashes. The presence of British soldiers, requested by acting Governor Thomas Hutchinson to protect officials and maintain order, exacerbated the situation. As British soldiers began to compete with locals for jobs and enforcement became more aggressive, resentment grew. The Boston Massacre itself occurred on March 5, 1770, when a confrontation between Bostonians and British soldiers at the customs house led to the soldiers firing into the crowd, resulting in the death of five people.