The Story Of The Assassination Of President Abraham Lincoln
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, while watching a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. The assassination of Lincoln was a tragic event that shook the nation and had a significant impact on American history. In this article, we will discuss the events leading up to the assassination, the assassination itself, and the aftermath that followed.
The Events Leading Up To The Assassination
John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor, was a Confederate sympathizer who strongly opposed President Lincoln's policies. Booth believed that President Lincoln's policies would destroy the South and their way of life. As a result, he began to plot against the President and eventually decided to assassinate him.
On the morning of April 14, 1865, Booth learned that President Lincoln would be attending a play at Ford's Theatre that evening. Booth saw this as an opportunity to carry out his plan. He gathered a group of co-conspirators and together they planned the assassination.
The Assassination
On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, arrived at Ford's Theatre to watch a play. Unbeknownst to them, Booth and his co-conspirators were already inside the theater, waiting for their opportunity to strike.
As the play progressed, Booth made his way to the President's box. He waited for a moment when the audience was laughing, and then he entered the box and shot President Lincoln in the back of the head. Booth then jumped onto the stage and shouted "Sic Semper Tyrannis!" which means "Thus always to tyrants!" in Latin.
After shooting the President, Booth escaped from the theater and fled Washington D.C. He was eventually caught and killed by Union soldiers twelve days after the assassination.
The Aftermath
The assassination of President Lincoln had a profound impact on American history. The nation was in shock and mourning after the tragic event. The President's body was taken to the White House, where it lay in state for several days. A funeral procession was held, and the President's body was transported by train to his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, where he was buried.
The assassination of President Lincoln also had political and social consequences. Andrew Johnson, who became President after Lincoln's death, was unable to carry out Lincoln's plans for Reconstruction. The South was able to rebuild and reclaim power, leading to the emergence of the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights movement in the 20th century.
Conclusion
The assassination of President Lincoln was a tragic event that had a significant impact on American history. John Wilkes Booth's actions on that fateful night changed the course of American politics and society. President Lincoln's legacy lives on today, and his contributions to the nation will never be forgotten.