On March 5, 1770, Bostonian Edward Gerrish began to argue with a British soldier over an unpaid debt. Though later evidence showed that the debt had already been paid, Gerrish incited the British troops until one of them struck him on the head with his musket. As onlookers became angrier and their number grew larger, the situation became more unstable, and threats, snowballs and finally rocks were hurled at the soldiers. When some of the British troops fired their weapons, killing five members of the crowd, it began a controversy with lasting effects.
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