Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What event is referred to as the Boston Massacre?

1. Taxation of tea

2. Colonial protests against British troops

3. Dumping tea into Boston Harbor

4. British fire on colonists, resulting in deaths

The correct answer is: British fire on colonists, resulting in deaths

The event referred to as the Boston Massacre specifically describes the tragic confrontation that occurred on March 5, 1770, when British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of colonists, leading to the deaths of five individuals. This incident became a significant point of tension between the American colonies and British authorities, as it exemplified the growing resentment among colonists towards British rule and the presence of British troops in Boston. The Boston Massacre was portrayed in colonial propaganda as a brutal attack on innocent citizens, which galvanized public opinion against British policies and helped fuel the revolutionary spirit among the colonists. The phrase "massacre" was used deliberately to evoke outrage and to rally support for the colonial cause. While colonial protests against British troops and the events surrounding tea taxation, such as the Boston Tea Party, were important in the lead-up to the American Revolution, they do not directly identify the event in question. The Boston Massacre is distinct because it involved violence and loss of life, marking a turning point in colonial attitudes toward British authorities.