Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was a pivotal event in American history, occurring on the evening of April 14, 1865, when John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer, fatally shot President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C..

Background

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. His presidency was marked by the American Civil War and his efforts to end slavery in the United States, culminating in the Emancipation Proclamation and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment.

The Assassination

On the night of April 14, 1865, Lincoln attended a play titled Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre. During the performance, John Wilkes Booth entered the presidential box and shot Lincoln in the back of the head with a Derringer pistol. Booth then leapt onto the stage and escaped, despite breaking his leg in the process.

Aftermath

Lincoln was carried across the street to the Petersen House, where he died the following morning on April 15, 1865. His death marked the first assassination of a U.S. president and had profound effects on the nation, particularly during the Reconstruction era.

Capture and Death of Booth

John Wilkes Booth fled the scene and was pursued by Union soldiers. He was eventually cornered and killed on April 26, 1865, at a farm in Virginia.

Legacy

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is remembered as a tragic event in American history. Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War and his vision for a united nation have left a lasting legacy.

See Also

• American Civil War
• Reconstruction era of the United States
• Presidency of Abraham Lincoln

References

• James L. Swanson, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer
• Michael W. Kauffman, American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies

External Links

• Ford's Theatre National Historic Site
• Lincoln Home National Historic Site