Any discussion about the American Revolution begins with an examination of the Boston Massacre. When British soldiers fired into a mob on Boston’s King Street, killing five American colonists and wounding a half-dozen more on March 5, 1770, it galvanized many behind the Patriot cause.

To mark the 250th anniversary of this pivotal event, the American Battlefield Trust presents a short animated video explaining the moment’s significance. The imagery used is from our upcoming graphic novel about the first 100 years of American history.