Thursday: History
Who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln?
Hint: This infamous assassin was a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer who carried out his deadly plan at Ford’s Theatre in 1865.
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer.
The attack took place at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., while Lincoln was watching a performance of Our American Cousin. Booth, who strongly opposed Lincoln’s policies and the Union’s victory in the Civil War, saw the assassination as a way to incite chaos and revive the Confederate cause.
After shooting Lincoln in the back of the head, Booth fled the scene, sparking a massive manhunt. He was eventually found and killed by Union soldiers 12 days later in a Virginia barn. Lincoln’s assassination deeply shook the nation, altering the course of Reconstruction and solidifying his legacy as one of America’s most revered presidents.
