Abraham Lincoln's Assassination Research Paper

The most admired president, Abraham Lincoln was a figure of his time, but still stands to this day as a major character whom most admire. However, when someone is loved to every measure, they’re bound to have some who don’t appreciate their integrity, some who absolutely despise them. Whether this is procured from jealousy, hatred, or personal experience, these people are often so determined to destroy because of their own pride. Rewinding, one hundred and forty years ago, to the assassination of Honest Abe, we see that post Civil War times were just beginning; in fact, they had only just begun, as the surrender of Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant happened a mere five days before John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the head. Though the war

had ended, this was a time of political unrest because the North and South had not mended their sores quite yet--it had only been five days! Along with political unrest, there were newly freed slaves trying to find work in a broken country, only angering the South more. Ergo, there were some, such as John Wilkes Booth, who hated Lincoln and conspired against him, thus ending his life unexpectedly.

Moreover, after the Civil War had ended, neither the North nor South were in good conditions; one thing everyone could agree on is that they were tired. Considering one of the American ‘ideas,’ of perseverance, this tiredness didn’t get in the way of resentment. Southerners were in despair; they had lost the war, and their land had been destroyed, a lot by Sherman’s March to the Sea. Because of this, many southerners hated Lincoln. Can you believe it? In his time, Lincoln wasn’t admired by the entire population. Citizens of that time, including many Northerners, were angry with Abe, as he was often blamed for the bulk of the war, the United States president was an easy person to blame for the millions who had died. The infamous John Wilkes Booth was the assassin who devastated the country. He was a well-known Northern actor, but was known for his southern sympathies. Considering all the facts aforementioned, he met the criteria of one who despised the president, so Booth gathered a group of conspirators, of whom many were enthusiasts of John Wilkes Booth as an actor. Two of the main men were George Azterodt and Lewis Powell, each was to take a certain role in the killing of the Secretary of State William Seward, the Vice President Andrew Johnson, and the president, Abraham Lincoln. George Azterodt was assigned William Seward, and he did not perform the task which he was supposed to, his fright overtook him. Lewis Powell was to kill the Andrew Johnson, and he partially accomplished his task, as he took a knife to Johnson’s face, but Johnson survived. To the great sadness of the country, John Wilkes Booth assigned himself to the assassination of the beloved president, of which he succeeded.

American history is full of stories and memories, all of which shape the country we live in today. There are specific turning points that hold significance, the assassination of our greatest president being one. How ironic that a man who was so loved, could as be so hated! This event, which occurred on April 14, 1864, will forever be remembered because it was the first assassination in American history. This was a time of much discontent and anger in America; it seemed no one got along. However, the end of the Civil War was on mutual terms: that the war needed to end, the soldiers and country in general needed relief. Being a time of many firsts, it was also the first, and hopefully last, Civil War in America. The unique thing about a war among the citizens of one country is, no one really ‘wins.’ This is due to the fact that all casualties are among that country, all devastation is felt there, not half, but all. This in itself is a turning point because as we look back and study this calamitous time, there is an extreme sense of sadness, many realize this can never happen again. The Civil War had just ended, with three percent of the population killed, it was the beginning of a whole new era: reconstruction. How wonderful it would be to have this reconstruction time with such an honest leader, except that that leader’s life was cut short by a self-seeking and hateful man. This surely turned the tide of reconstruction, it plunged the country back into despair, where reconstruction would be halted. In short, this event changed the productivity of reconstruction. So, whether he was liked or not, it changed the course of history in that reconstruction didn’t go as well as it could have.

Though the Assassination of Father Abraham obviously had a momentous effect on the country, but it also greatly affected the people of that time, that is to say, it had short-term outcomes.

The divide between the North and South had existed for quite some time, with slavery at the heart of the issue. The war had not only separated the two, but drove a wedge between them. So after Lincoln’s assassination, a further divide was drawn between the North and South, because as many people mourned for the loss, some did rejoice. The fear of another war beginning was in the air, the reason being, the man who instructed the North with honesty and love was gone, no more Lincoln to get in the way. Clearly observed, the Civil War was a devastating blow to the whole country, but the end of the president made this a whole lot worse. Though there were the haters of that time, many demanded Lincoln’s body be brought to their state, many even argued about where he should be buried, recognizing his deep connection to each state. In a sense, many came together in the mourning of the president, as a short-term effect. A prominent short-term outcome was in dealing with the Radical Republicans, who believed in punishing the South. Lincoln had believed in viewing the South as a long lost son, or the prodigal son. With Lincoln gone, many Radical Republicans took over, forcing their ideas, which created even more unrest in the hearts of the American

citizens.

A Man Worthy of Remembrance
Furthermore, the effects of Honest Abe’s assassination resonate through history and still affect many in various ways today. There is a deep-seated hostility in the south, which is assumed to be made from the Civil War, but more than that, made from the assassination of Lincoln. This is true because Lincoln was not there for the reconstruction of the south, and he would have dealt with the whole situation very delicately and compassionately. Referring back to the Radical Republicans, because of their hostility, the South, or the North, were remade to the benefit of the country, speaking long-term. Recalling Lincoln’s idea of reconstruction, his love for people, if he had been alive, would have shaped the country for the remaining years he would be president. A major long-term effect of this is a warning against anyone who may plan to assassinate or capture the president. Whether or not the president is well-liked, the effects on the country are brutal, as we are still experiencing this hardship today.
Consequently, Lincoln is a favorite of the American country, the he wasn’t always, This is clearly shown in the fact that he was assassinated. Though did the evil conspirator, John Wilkes Booth, really accomplish anything on his part? He ended up being executed, on the spot, similar to Osama Bin Laden’s death. This shows how much value is placed on the protection of our president, as he was shot down like a terrorist. Effects, long-term and short-term, were long-enduring and inevitable. Remembering Lincoln is all an American can do now, and through remembering him, observe his integrity, honesty, and compassion which should have shaped our country.