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The Plot to Assassinate Lincoln

Learn about the background of the shooter, John Wilkes Booth, and the events leading up to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

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The Plot to Assassinate Lincoln

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  1. The Plot to Assassinate Lincoln Mr. Phipps U.S. History

  2. Background: The Shooter John Wilkes Booth • Born May, 10 1838 in Bel Air, Maryland--a Southern city • Began interest in theatrics in 1855 at the Charles Street Theater in Baltimore • Booth became a common actor at the theater • In September 1858 Booth moved to Richmond, Virginia to act at the Marshall Theater • At Richmond, Booth became accustomed and sympathized to the southern politics • Booth never joined the Confederate army but did smuggle medical supplies from the North during the Civil War

  3. The Victim Abraham Lincoln • Born on February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky • In 1842, he married Mary Todd a women from Lexington, Kentucky • In 1847, Lincoln was elected to the House of Representatives • In 1856, he went to the ran against Stephen A. Douglas in a losing effort to get to the U.S Senate as a Republican • In 1860, he ran for President against Stephen Douglas and won the election

  4. The Beginning • The Plot: Summer 1864 • Booth developed plans to give the Confederates an advantage in the war • Planned to kidnap Lincoln with a group of friends • Wanted to hold Lincoln for ransom to free Confederate POWs • Co-conspirators included Samuel Arnold, Michael O’Laughlen, John Surratt, Lewis Powell, George Atzerodt and David Harold with the help of Dr. Samuel Mudd • Booth would use John Surratt’s wife Mary Surratt’s boarding house to hold his meetings about his plans

  5. First Attempt • On January 18, 1865 Booth learned that Lincoln was expected to attend a play at Ford’s Theater • Booth assembled his conspirators and waited in the back of the theater • Lincoln didn’t show to the theater, forcing Booth to wait for another time

  6. Second Attempt • March 17, 1865: Booth learned that Lincoln would attend a play for the Union troops at Campbell Hospital • Booth, again, assembled the group to wait on the road to kidnap Lincoln • Lincoln did not show again and the group became angry at Booth

  7. Lincoln’s Second Inauguration:A change of plans March 4, 1865: Lincoln’s Inaugural address • Booth and his conspirators were in the crowd listening • Booth became outraged when Lincoln told about his Emancipation Proclamation and decided there that he must assassinate Lincoln

  8. April 14, 1865 • Booth went into the Ford Theater on the morning of April 14, 1865 and learned that Lincoln would attend the play “Our American Cousin” • Booth planned that night to kill Lincoln • Booth also gave instructions to his conspirators • Atzerodt was to kill vice-president Andrew Johnson • Powell was to kill Secretary of State William Seward along with Harold

  9. The End of Lincoln • At 8:30 Lincoln and his wife arrived at Ford’s Theater to watch the play • Booth arrived an hour later with a derringer and a hunting knife, after having a drink at a saloon next door • Booth entered Ford’s Theater at 10:07, ascending the backstage stairs to Lincoln’s booth • Lincoln’s bodyguard was momentarily absent • Booth moved into the room • At 10:15. Booth pointed the gun at Lincoln’s head and fired • Henry Rathbone, a friend of Lincoln’s, tried to take Booth down, but got stabbed in the arm • Booth jumped 11 feet to the stage, snapping his fibula and yelling “Sic Semper Tyrannis” or “As Always to Tyrannts” • Booth, then, escaped out the back door and fled the city

  10. The Conspirators • Atzerodt never made an attempt at killing Johnson • Powell stabbed Seward, but did not kill him • The conspirators met in Maryland and went to Dr. Mudd’s house to hide • From there they traveled south and stopped at Garrett’s farm in Port Royal Virginia, were federal authorities caught them • On the morning of April 16, 1865 Booth and Harold were trapped by federal troops • Harold gave up, but Booth refused to come out • Federal troops set the barn on fire, forcing Booth out • Booth, however, remained in the barn until he was shot to death

  11. Lincoln Dead • Lincoln pronounced dead on April 15, 1865 at 7:22 a.m. from a GSW to the head • V.P. Andrew Johnson immediately replaced as president • The South, under Reconstruction, allowed to re-enter the Union

  12. Work Citied • Booths Assassination of Lincoln http://home.att.net/-rjnorton/Lincoln75.html • Abraham Lincoln • http://www.civilwarhome.com/lincolnbio.html • Abraham Lincoln Bio • http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/al16.html • Lincolns Assassination • www.angelfire.com/my/abrahamlincoln/Assassination.html

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