The Boston Massacre was a confrontation that occurred on March 5, 1770, between British soldiers and a crowd of colonists in Boston, Massachusetts. The event was heavily publicized as "a massacre" by leading Patriots such as Paul Revere and Samuel Adams. The soldiers were provoked by a group of rowdy colonists and fired upon them, killing three instantly and two later as a result of their wounds. The incident fueled the anger of colonists like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, who used the massacre as propaganda to incite the public. The Boston Massacre reflected growing tension between Great Britain and its American colonies, as the British government attempted to exercise greater control over its American colonies while simultaneously increasing revenues. The incident helped galvanize Boston and the colonies against the mother country, and by transforming the dead rioters into martyrs for liberty, Sam Adams secured removal of British troops from Boston. John Adams, who was a patriot and future president, defended the soldiers at their trial. Most of the soldiers ended up being acquitted, including Thomas Preston, who was found innocent because he never ordered the shots. Two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter, and their hands were branded with “M” as their punishment. The Boston Massacre was one of the most important events leading up to the Revolutionary War, as it led directly to the Royal Governor evacuating the occupying army from the town of Boston and brought the revolution to armed rebellion throughout the colonies.