President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865 while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln died the next day, becoming the first U.S. president to be assassinated. In the following photos, we review eerie facts about Booth’s conspiracy aimed to revive the Confederate cause by targeting Lincoln.
Booth’s Original Plan: Initially, John Wilkes Booth had planned to kidnap President Lincoln and take him to Richmond, the Confederate capital. However, as the Civil War neared its end, Booth’s plans shifted towards assassination.
Assassination Date: Abraham Lincoln was shot on the evening of April 14, 1865, while attending a performance of the play “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
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The Weapon: Booth used a .44 caliber single-shot Deringer pistol to shoot Lincoln. The gun was small and easily concealable, which aided Booth in carrying out the assassination.
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Booth’s Escape: After shooting Lincoln, Booth jumped onto the stage, shouting, “Sic semper tyrannis!” (“Thus always to tyrants!”) and fled through a side door to a waiting horse. He managed to escape from Washington, D.C., despite a massive manhunt.
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Conspiracy: Booth was part of a larger conspiracy to assassinate not only Lincoln but also Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William H. Seward. While Booth succeeded in killing Lincoln, the attempts on Johnson and Seward failed.
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Seward’s Attack: On the same night as Lincoln’s assassination, Lewis Powell (also known as Lewis Payne) attempted to assassinate Secretary of State William H. Seward at his home in Washington, D.C. Seward was seriously injured but survived.
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Booth’s Death: Twelve days after the assassination, on April 26, 1865, Booth was tracked down to a farm in Virginia. Refusing to surrender, he was shot and killed by Union soldiers.
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Lincoln’s Death: Lincoln was taken from Ford’s Theatre across the street to the Petersen House, where he remained unconscious and on life support until he died the next morning, April 15, 1865, at 7:22 a.m.
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Impact on the Nation: Lincoln’s assassination deeply shocked the nation, already reeling from the Civil War’s end. It was seen as a tragic blow just as the country was beginning the process of healing and reconstruction.
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Legacy and Memorials: Ford’s Theatre, where Lincoln was shot, is now a National Historic Site and a museum dedicated to Lincoln’s life and legacy. The assassination continues to be studied by historians and remains a poignant moment in American history.
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