The Lincoln Assassination

Appomattox Court House, VAAppomattox Court House, VA

• April 9, 1865April 9, 1865• General Robert E. Lee (Confederacy) surrenders General Robert E. Lee (Confederacy) surrenders

to General Ulysses S. Grant (Union)to General Ulysses S. Grant (Union)• The Civil War is officially over, however, small The Civil War is officially over, however, small

battles still take place in the Southbattles still take place in the South

Robert E. Lee

Ulysses S. Grant

Capturing Jefferson DavisCapturing Jefferson Davis

• The last order given to The last order given to Union troops was to Union troops was to capture Jefferson Davis, capture Jefferson Davis, President of the President of the ConfederacyConfederacy

• Davis fled farther south Davis fled farther south with his Cabinetwith his Cabinet

““Our American Cousin”Our American Cousin”• Five days after the surrender of General Five days after the surrender of General

Lee Abraham Lincoln plans to attend a Lee Abraham Lincoln plans to attend a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.play at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.

"Crook, do you know I believe there are men who want to take my life? And I have no "Crook, do you know I believe there are men who want to take my life? And I have no doubt they will do it.....I know no one could do it and escape alive. But if it is to be doubt they will do it.....I know no one could do it and escape alive. But if it is to be done, it is impossible to prevent it."done, it is impossible to prevent it."

Abraham Lincoln to bodyguard, William H. Crook, on April 14, 1865Abraham Lincoln to bodyguard, William H. Crook, on April 14, 1865

““Our American Cousin”Our American Cousin”• What Lincoln doesn’t realize is that a What Lincoln doesn’t realize is that a

famous face at the theater will be the famous face at the theater will be the person who will take his life.person who will take his life.

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• Booth was a Southern sympathizer.Booth was a Southern sympathizer.

• There are many conspiracy theories There are many conspiracy theories surrounding his role in the assassinationsurrounding his role in the assassination

• Was he part of a secret service organization for the Was he part of a secret service organization for the South?South?

• Was he working on direct orders of Jefferson Was he working on direct orders of Jefferson Davis?Davis?

• All of the information we have says that All of the information we have says that Booth devised the assassination by Booth devised the assassination by himself, but with the help of a few friends.himself, but with the help of a few friends.

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• Originally, Booth hoped to Originally, Booth hoped to

kidnap Lincolnkidnap Lincoln• They would take him to Richmond They would take him to Richmond

and use him to bargain for and use him to bargain for Confederate prisoners of warConfederate prisoners of war

• This plan never worked out for This plan never worked out for BoothBooth

• ““For six months we had worked to For six months we had worked to capture. But, our cause being capture. But, our cause being almost lost, something decisive and almost lost, something decisive and great must be done.“great must be done.“

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– Samuel ArnoldSamuel Arnold• Helped Booth with his Helped Booth with his

kidnapping schemekidnapping scheme• Was arrested and Was arrested and

sentenced to life for sentenced to life for being a part of the Booth being a part of the Booth conspiracyconspiracy

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– Michael O’LaughlenMichael O’Laughlen• Conspired with Booth about the Conspired with Booth about the

kidnapping of the Presidentkidnapping of the President• Was in Washington, D.C. on the Was in Washington, D.C. on the

day of the assassinationday of the assassination• No evidence connects him to the No evidence connects him to the

murder plotmurder plot• Voluntarily surrendered himself to the authoritiesVoluntarily surrendered himself to the authorities• Sentenced to life in prisonSentenced to life in prison

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– Edman SpanglerEdman Spangler• Accused of aiding Booth’s Accused of aiding Booth’s

escape from Ford’s Theater escape from Ford’s Theater after the assassinationafter the assassination

• Supposedly punched another Supposedly punched another theater worker in the face and theater worker in the face and told him not to inform the police told him not to inform the police about which way Booth went about which way Booth went after leaving the theaterafter leaving the theater

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– Lewis PowellLewis Powell• Involved in the kidnapping plotInvolved in the kidnapping plot• Assigned to kill Secretary of State, Assigned to kill Secretary of State,

William SewardWilliam Seward• Arrived at the boardinghouse of Mary Arrived at the boardinghouse of Mary

Surratt, mother of John Surratt, just as the Surratt, mother of John Surratt, just as the police also arrived to arrest her police also arrived to arrest her

• Sentenced to death by hanging for his Sentenced to death by hanging for his role in the conspiracy and attempted role in the conspiracy and attempted murdermurder

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– David HeroldDavid Herold• Was to guide Lewis Powell to Was to guide Lewis Powell to

Seward’s house for the murderSeward’s house for the murder• Did not stay to help Powell escapeDid not stay to help Powell escape• Met up with Booth and aided his Met up with Booth and aided his

escape until they were both escape until they were both captured by Union troopscaptured by Union troops

• Sentenced to death by hangingSentenced to death by hanging

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– Dr. Samuel MuddDr. Samuel Mudd• Introduced Booth to John SurrattIntroduced Booth to John Surratt• Set and splinted Booth’s broken Set and splinted Booth’s broken

left leg during his escapeleft leg during his escape• Claimed not to recognize his Claimed not to recognize his

patient as Boothpatient as Booth• Sentenced to life in prison for Sentenced to life in prison for

conspiracy and aiding Boothconspiracy and aiding Booth

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– George AtzerodtGeorge Atzerodt• Was assigned to kill Vice- Was assigned to kill Vice-

President Andrew JohnsonPresident Andrew Johnson• Most people think that he Most people think that he

chickened out at the last chickened out at the last minuteminute

• No attempt was made on No attempt was made on Johnson’s life that nightJohnson’s life that night

• Found guilty for conspiracy Found guilty for conspiracy and sentenced to death by and sentenced to death by hanginghanging

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– John and Mary SurrattJohn and Mary Surratt• Mother and sonMother and son• Most of the conspirators had stayed at Most of the conspirators had stayed at

the Surratt boardinghouse in the days the Surratt boardinghouse in the days leading up to the assassinationleading up to the assassination

• John Surratt escaped to CanadaJohn Surratt escaped to Canada• Mary Surratt was arrested and found Mary Surratt was arrested and found

guilty for aiding the conspiracy– she guilty for aiding the conspiracy– she was sentenced to death by hangingwas sentenced to death by hanging

– She was the first woman to be executed by She was the first woman to be executed by the U.S. governmentthe U.S. government

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-The co-

conspirators:conspirators:– John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth

• Had been to a Had been to a Lincoln speech the Lincoln speech the day before the day before the assassinationassassination

• Planned to shoot Planned to shoot the President, then the President, then escape to the South escape to the South where he thought he where he thought he would be welcomed would be welcomed like a herolike a hero

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth

John Wilkes Booth’s PlotJohn Wilkes Booth’s Plot• The co-conspirators:The co-conspirators:

– John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth• Booth was on the run for almost two weeksBooth was on the run for almost two weeks• He was surrounded in a barn in VirginiaHe was surrounded in a barn in Virginia

– He refused to surrender, so Union troops tried to burn He refused to surrender, so Union troops tried to burn the barn down to force him outthe barn down to force him out

– A soldier named Boston Corbett shot Booth in the neck A soldier named Boston Corbett shot Booth in the neck and he was pulled from the barnand he was pulled from the barn

– Booth was paralyzed from the bullet-- just before he Booth was paralyzed from the bullet-- just before he died, he looked at his hands and said “Useless, useless.”died, he looked at his hands and said “Useless, useless.”

The Booth Diary Conspiracy

• When Booth died, the Union soldiers found a red address book on him that had been used as a diary.

• There are missing pages– Anywhere from 14-86 pages has been guessed.

• Booth’s last entry

Lincoln’s FuneralLincoln’s Funeral• Lincoln’s body traveled across the country Lincoln’s body traveled across the country

from Washington, D.C. to his hometown of from Washington, D.C. to his hometown of Springfield, where he remains todaySpringfield, where he remains today

Jefferson DavisJefferson Davis• Nearly one month later, Davis was Nearly one month later, Davis was

captured and the Confederate States of captured and the Confederate States of America were dissolvedAmerica were dissolved

Effects of the WarEffects of the War

1.1. Ended the threat of secessionEnded the threat of secession• Although states’ rights is still an issue todayAlthough states’ rights is still an issue today

2.2. Income tax and National Bank ActIncome tax and National Bank Act

3.3. Slavery abolished– 13Slavery abolished– 13thth Amendment Amendment

4.4. Great human and economic costsGreat human and economic costs

5.5. Red CrossRed Cross

6.6. PhotojournalismPhotojournalism