Final answer:
The Boston Massacre was caused by escalating tensions between American colonists and British soldiers. It occurred on March 5, 1770, when a mob of Bostonians started throwing objects at British soldiers, who in turn fired into the crowd, killing five people. This event highlighted the hostility due to British occupation, job competition, and taxation without representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The incident occurred on March 5, 1770, when a mob of Bostonians started throwing snowballs, rocks, and sticks at the British soldiers guarding the customs house. The soldiers, feeling threatened and goaded by the mob, fired into the crowd, resulting in the deaths of five people, including Crispus Attucks, an African American Wampanoag man. This event illustrated the level of hostility that had developed due to Boston's occupation by British troops, competition for jobs between colonists and soldiers, and the larger issue of taxation without representation imposed by Parliament.