<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Boston Massacre, known as the Incident on King Street by the British, was a confrontation on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers shot and killed five people while under harassment by locals . 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 . </P> <P> 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 was being protested at the time of the boston massacre