lincoln’s martydom

Lincoln's Assassination

• Date: April 14, 1865

  • Context: A week and a half after Lincoln's triumphant entry into Richmond and five days following General Lee's surrender.

  • Event: Attended a play titled "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC.

  • Incident: Lincoln was shot in the back of the head by John Wilkes Booth.

  • Outcome: Lincoln died the following morning.

The Conspiracy Behind the Assassination

• Conspirators' Background: Booth was part of a conspiracy involving southern and pro-southern loyalists targeting Lincoln and other leading officials.

  • Lincoln was the only official successfully assassinated.

• Booth's Background:

  • Common misconception: Booth was a resentful failed actor.

  • Reality: Came from a famous acting family; both he and his brother were stars of the antebellum stage.

  • Status: Wealthy and renowned in the 1850s, comparable to modern movie stars like Brad Pitt or Ryan Reynolds.

Motivation for the Assassination

• Initial Plan: Booth and his conspirators intended to take Lincoln hostage.

• Change in Intent: After Lincoln's speech endorsing voting rights for African Americans, Booth expressed intent to kill Lincoln, stating, "By God, I'll put him through for that."

Aftermath of Lincoln's Death

• Lincoln's Legacy: After his assassination, he was seen as a martyr and a savior of the nation, often referred to as the liberator of the enslaved.

• Uncertainty Post-Civil War: Without Lincoln's guidance, the future of the nation was uncertain.

Andrew Johnson's Presidency

• Successor: Andrew Johnson, a solid Jacksonian Democrat, became president after Lincoln's assassination.

• Political Stance: Advocated for white democracy, which was overtly hostile toward African Americans.

• Southern Response: White Southerners faced the reality of emancipation but resisted violently against its implications, highlighting tensions in a post-war society.