ID: Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
When: April 14, 1865
Who:
- John Wilkes Booth: Confederate sympathizer and actor.
- Abraham Lincoln: President of the United States.
What:
John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head while he was watching a play. Lincoln died the following morning.
Impact: Why Significant?:
- Marked a period of national grief and shock. Lincoln’s assassination plunged the nation into mourning and heightened fears of further violence.
- Contributed to the rise of Andrew Johnson as President. Johnson, Lincoln’s Vice President, assumed the presidency and faced the difficult task of rebuilding the nation after the Civil War.
- Significantly impacted the Reconstruction Era. Lincoln’s assassination left a void in leadership at a critical time for the nation. Johnson’s Reconstruction policies differed significantly from Lincoln’s, leading to a more lenient approach towards the South.
- Elevated Lincoln to the status of a martyr. His assassination solidified his place in history as a great leader and a symbol of the Union’s victory.
- Led to increased efforts to apprehend Booth and his co-conspirators. The assassination prompted a widespread manhunt for Booth and his accomplices, resulting in their capture and trial.