The underlying tension that escalated into the Boston Massacre was between

A) supporters and opponents of the boycott of British cloth.
B) British troops stationed in Boston and the city's laborers competing for jobs.
C) two factions of British troops from Liverpool and London, who disagreed over military strategy.
D) British troops and local farmers.

Underlying Tension

The existing but concealed disagreements, issues, or conflict between individuals or groups that could potentially become more evident or erupt into a more pronounced conflict.

Boston Massacre

A confrontation on March 5, 1770, in which British soldiers killed five colonial civilians in Boston, exacerbating American resentment toward British rule.

Laborers

Laborers are workers, often in the construction, manual labor, or agricultural fields, who perform physical tasks and are essential to the completion of projects and production.