Lincoln Assassination
Chris Poturalski
Before the Assassination
Happened 5 days after the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House
He was first American President to be assassinated
Andrew Jackson was an unsuccessful attempt
Multiple attempts to kill or kidnap the president before April 14.
Assassination
On, April 14, 1865, Lincoln was attending a play at Ford’s Theatre to watch Our American Cousin.
John Wilkes Booth snuck in the room and shot Lincoln in the back of the head.
After he shot Lincoln, he escaped by jumping down onto the stage.
He broke one of his leg and shouted Sic semper Tyrannus
Background of Booth
An actor
Strongly opposed abolition of slavery
Member of the Knights of the Golden Circle
Formed conspiracy with multiple other perpetrators
Hoped the assassination would revive the government
Booth’s earlier opportunities
Original plan was to kidnap President to keep for ransom in 1864.
March 4th 1865 – Lincoln’s second inaugural speech.
“a splendid chance… to kill the president where he stood.”
March 17th 1865 – plan to kidnap the president
Lincoln-Booth relationship
LincolnAdmired the works of Booth
Went to multiple plays
Invited him to the White House
Wrote letters to Booth
BoothHated the President
“I would rather have applause from a Negro than that of the president.”
Declined invitation to White House
Lincoln’s Dreams
During the last 2 weeks before his death he had dreams about his own death.
“Who is dead in the White House?”“The president. He was killed by an assassin.”
He supposedly been having the same dream for three days before his assassination
April 14, 1965
Booth met with Lewis Powell and George Atzerodt about the assassination plot
Powell was assigned to kill Secretary of State William H. Seward
Atzerodt was assigned to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson
Planned a 10:15 assassination attempt
Outcome
BoothShot Lincoln in the back of the head with a single-shot Deringer
Stabbed General Grant
PowellStabbed Seward in the head multiple times before escaping, which it did not kill Seward
AtzerodtFailed to attempt to assassinate Johnson
Hunt for Booth
Lasted for 11 days (April 15-26)
Biggest manhunt in the nation$100,000 reward for Booth
Fled to Eastern Virginia
Hid at Surratt Tavern, Dr. Mudd, Samuel Cox, and Garrett’s Farm
Was found and killed at Garrett’s Farm
Trial
May 1, Johnson suggests military trial
Lasted 7 weeks
Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt were sentenced to death by hanging
Mudd, Arnold, and Spangler were pardoned by Johnson
After
April 19th his funeralBody transported by train 1,700 miles for millions of people to watch
Andrew Johnson became President
Ford’s Theatre was turned into a museum rather than continuation of plays after it was shut down
Some other Conspiracy’s
Lincoln died with a conspiracy organized by Booth
Andrew Johnson was with Booth
Result of confederate plot
Catholic church was behind assassination
Edwin Stanton was behind assassination
Sources
http://historyrat.wordpress.com/2010/02/06/conspiracy-theory-the-lincoln-assassination/
http://www.crimelibrary.com/terrorists_spies/assassins/booth/7.html
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lincolnconspiracy/lincolnchronology.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/assassination/
http://teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-historian/19423