Abraham Lincoln's Assassination Research Paper

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Introduction. The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln was a tragic and horrific moment in American History. Lincoln was a loved and cherished President who helped pave the way for change in our country. When John Wilkes Booth shot the 16th President, our country was put into shock and a manhunt for Booth was put into action. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was plotted and executed by John Wilkes Booth and the Conspirators.
The Plot. Abraham Lincoln’s assassination took years of planning by a group of hateful, racist, Confederate sympathizers.
The Conspirators. John Wilkes Booth formed a group called the Conspirators. They were Confederate sympathizers who had a deep hatred for Abraham Lincoln and the people around him. The conspiracy he …show more content…

The original plan was to kidnap Lincoln. Booth had even waited to ambush him two times, but each time something went wrong and they couldn’t continue. After the Confederate army surrendered, Booth no longer wanted to capture him but wanted to see him dead. Lincoln had no plan to go to the theatre until the morning of his assassination. Booth just happened to be walking by Ford’s Theatre when he overheard that the President would be in attendance. Booth knew that this was his moment. There was also a plan to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. Atzerodt failed to kill Johnson, but Powell slashed Seward’s face multiple times. He survived but his face was disfigured (Guelzo …show more content…

The Assassination took place at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. Since Booth was an actor, he could easily get into Ford’s Theatre. He left his horse outside with a stagehand and walked up to the private box that Abraham Lincoln was located. There was a guard outside the box, but security around the President was different in those times and since Booth was an acclaimed actor he was let in. Abraham Lincoln was with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, and their guests Clara Harris and her fiancé Maj. Henry Rathbone. Booth waited until there was a laugh in the audience to bust through the second door and shoot the President in the back of the head and slash Rathbone in the shoulder with a knife. Then Booth jumped from the private box onto the stage and said, “Sic semper tyrannis” which means “The South is avenged”. When John jumped from the box to the stage, he broke his leg. Booth then ran out the stage door and rode away on the horse that was held for him (Wallenfeldt).
The Death. Abraham Lincoln was taken to a house across the street and treated for his wounds. He was pronounced dead at 7:22 am on April 15, 1865. Abraham Lincoln’s body was taken to his hometown of Springfield, Illinois (Abraham

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