Will mark as ! which answer best shows the effects of british soldiers firing upon colonists in boston, killing five of them? the first shots of the american revolution are fired, and war between the colonies and britain begins. the sons of liberty protest by dumping tea into boston harbor, which becomes known as the boston tea party. samuel adams and the sons of liberty call this the boston massacre to gain colonial support against the british. delegates meet at the first continental congress and demand that britain repeal the coercive (intolerable) acts.