The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: A Night That Changed America

A Nation in Shock

On the night of April 14, 1865, America's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The nation watched in disbelief as Lincoln, shot in the head, succumbed to his injuries the following morning at 7:22 a.m. in the Petersen House, just across the street from the theater. As the first U.S. president to be assassinated, Lincoln's death plunged the country into mourning during a time when it was already weary from the Civil War.

A Calculated Plot

The assassination was not an isolated act of violence but part of a broader conspiracy orchestrated by Booth, a renowned actor and ardent Confederate sympathizer. Booth's plan aimed to revive the Confederate cause by eliminating the top three officials of the federal government: President Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William H. Seward.

Booth's co-conspirators had their orders: Lewis Powell and David Herold were to assassinate Seward, while George Atzerodt was tasked with killing Johnson. However, the plot largely failed. While Seward was injured, Johnson's attacker lost his nerve and became intoxicated instead. Booth managed an initial escape but was killed after a 12-day manhunt. The conspirators Powell, Herold, Atzerodt, and Mary Surratt were later hanged for their roles in the conspiracy.

Background of a Conspiracy

Abandoned Plans

John Wilkes Booth, born into a family of famous stage actors in Maryland, had a reputation as a celebrated actor. However, he was also a fervent supporter of the Confederacy. In late 1860, Booth joined the pro-Confederate Knights of the Golden Circle in Baltimore. As the Civil War progressed, he concocted a plan to kidnap Lincoln to force the Union into resuming prisoner exchanges, especially after the Confederacy refused to exchange black soldiers. Booth recruited Samuel Arnold, George Atzerodt, David Herold, Michael O'Laughlen, Lewis Powell (known as Lewis Paine), and John Surratt in this scheme. Mary Surratt, John's mother, moved to Washington, D.C., where Booth frequently visited her boarding house to plan the abduction.

Despite not knowing Lincoln personally, Booth attended Lincoln's second inauguration on March 4, 1865. He later wrote in his diary about the lost opportunity to assassinate Lincoln then. On March 17, Booth and his conspirators planned to abduct Lincoln but were thwarted when Lincoln's plans changed unexpectedly. With the Confederacy crumbling, Booth's focus shifted from kidnapping to assassination.

Motivations

Booth's motivations were complex. In a letter to his mother, he expressed a desire to avenge the South. Some historians suggest Booth was driven by sibling rivalry with his brother, Edwin Booth, a staunch Unionist. Admirers of Booth point to his admiration for abolitionist John Brown, calling him "the grandest character of the century." Booth's disdain for Lincoln's promotion of voting rights for emancipated slaves fueled his rage, leading him to declare Lincoln's last speech would indeed be his last.

Premonitions and Preparations

In a chilling turn of events, Lincoln reportedly shared a dream of his own assassination just days before his death. Despite his pale and haggard appearance in the preceding months, Lincoln was in high spirits on the morning of April 14. That evening, Booth discovered Lincoln was to attend Ford's Theatre, setting the stage for his deadly plan.

Booth meticulously organized the assassination, assigning roles to his fellow conspirators. He knew Ford's Theatre well and used his celebrity status to gain access to the Presidential Box, where he planned to shoot Lincoln and then stab General Ulysses S. Grant, who was expected to attend the play.

The Assassination

A Night at the Theatre

On the fateful night, Grant declined the Lincolns' invitation, and instead, Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée, Clara Harris, accompanied the President and First Lady. As the play began, Booth made his way to the theater, where he was recognized but not stopped, thanks to his fame. Lincoln, seated in a rocking chair, was enjoying the play, unaware of the impending danger.

The Fatal Shot

At approximately 10:15 p.m., Booth entered the Presidential Box. With a single-shot Philadelphia Deringer pistol, Booth shot Lincoln in the head and fled the scene, injuring Rathbone in the process. Booth leaped onto the stage, breaking his leg but managing to escape the theater.

The Aftermath

Despite the chaos, Lincoln was carried across the street to the Petersen House, where he died the next morning. Booth was killed on April 26 after a 12-day chase. The nation was left to mourn a leader whose life was cut short by a tragic act of violence.

Sources

For further information, you can visit the original Wikipedia article: Assassination of Abraham Lincoln