<P> The Boston Massacre , known as the Incident on King Street by the British , was an incident on March 5 , 1770 , in which British Army soldiers shot and killed people while under attack by a mob . The incident was heavily publicized by leading Patriots , such as Paul Revere and Samuel Adams , to encourage rebellion against the British authorities . British troops had been stationed in Boston , capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay , since 1768 in order to protect and support crown - appointed colonial officials attempting to enforce unpopular Parliamentary legislation . Amid ongoing tense relations between the population and the soldiers , a mob formed around a British sentry , who was subjected to verbal abuse and harassment . He was eventually supported by eight additional soldiers , who were subjected to verbal threats and repeatedly hit by clubs , stones and snowballs . They fired into the crowd , without orders , instantly killing three people and wounding others . Two more people died later of wounds sustained in the incident . </P>
what 's the significance of the boston massacre
to encourage rebellion against the British authorities