What event directly sparked the Boston Massacre? (1 point) Responses An African American sailor shot and wounded a British soldier. Colonists spread negative propaganda about British troops. A crowd of British troops dared the colonists to shoot them. A British soldier standing guard fired at colonists during an argument.

A British soldier standing guard fired at colonists during an argument.

The event that directly sparked the Boston Massacre was A British soldier standing guard fired at colonists during an argument.

The event that directly sparked the Boston Massacre was the shooting of colonists by British soldiers. To arrive at this answer, we need to evaluate each option provided:

1. An African American sailor shot and wounded a British soldier: This event, known as the "Crispus Attucks Incident," did occur during the Boston Massacre. However, it did not directly spark the event.

2. Colonists spread negative propaganda about British troops: While negative propaganda did exist, it was not the direct cause of the Boston Massacre.

3. A crowd of British troops dared the colonists to shoot them: There is no historical evidence of British troops daring the colonists to shoot them before the Boston Massacre.

4. A British soldier standing guard fired at colonists during an argument: This option accurately describes the event that directly sparked the Boston Massacre. On March 5, 1770, a confrontation between British soldiers and colonists escalated when a soldier fired upon the crowd, leading to the deaths of five colonists.

Therefore, the correct answer is: A British soldier standing guard fired at colonists during an argument.