On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth during a performance at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. After shooting Lincoln in the back of the head, Booth shouted “Sic Semper Tyrannis” before fleeing the scene. Lincoln was taken to a nearby boarding house where he passed away the next morning. Booth, a Maryland native and supporter of the Confederacy, had originally planned to kidnap the president but changed the plan to simultaneously assassinate Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward.
After killing Lincoln, Booth escaped the theater and wounded Secretary of State Seward at his home. Despite breaking his leg, Booth managed to escape the city with an accomplice and sought refuge at the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd in Maryland. Mudd unknowingly housed the fugitives but later kicked them out upon learning of Lincoln’s assassination. A manhunt ensued with over 1,000 Union soldiers searching for Booth and his accomplices. The bounty for their capture totaled $100,000.
Booth and his accomplice continued their escape south on horseback, hiding out in Zekiah Swamp for four days before being located by Union troops at a farm in Virginia. Herold surrendered, but Booth refused and was shot by Union soldiers before ultimately succumbing to his injuries. Four other conspirators were hanged for their involvement in the assassination plot. President Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, was laid to rest in Springfield, Illinois on May 4, 1865.
Lincoln’s legacy is based on his efforts to preserve the Union, end slavery, and create social freedom for African Americans. His famous Gettysburg Address, delivered in 1863, emphasized the nation’s dedication to the idea that all men are created equal. Despite Lincoln’s tragic death, his impact on American history remains significant, sparking questions about how the nation’s trajectory might have been different had he lived to serve out his second term. Lincoln’s burial site at Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, Illinois serves as a reminder of his lasting impact on the nation.
