Final answer:
The Boston Massacre was triggered by high tensions and hostilities between Bostonians and British soldiers, culminating in an altercation where soldiers fired into a crowd, killing five people.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Boston Massacre occurred due to rising tensions between colonists and British soldiers stationed in the colonies. On March 5, 1770, a crowd of Bostonians began harassing the soldiers (a readcoat) guarding the customs house by throwing snowballs, rocks, and sticks. This altercation escalated when the soldiers, taunted by the crowd and referred to as "lobster backs," fired into the assembling mob, resulting in the death of five individuals, including Crispus Attucks of Wampanoag and African descent. The incident exemplified the widespread hostility stemming from Britain's occupation, the struggle over jobs between locals and soldiers, and the broader issues related to parliamentary taxation of the colonies.