Intro Unit “Assassinations in American History” General overview on assassinations: Arabic word: Islamic brotherhood—killed people as “right of initiation” All assassinations are murders. Not all murders are assassinations. Best definition—The killing of a person for political purposes.
What do we know about American Assassinations? Best Review: Pre Quiz over important Points 11 attacks on 10 Presidents Points of similarity Study guide items to know Fill out Pre Quiz:
Andrew Jackson Winter 1835 Washington, DC Richard Lawrence—”King Richard” First recorded attempt on an American President.
Abraham Lincoln April 1865 JW Booth First successful attempt Possible conspiracy?
James Garfield July 1881 Immigrant shooting Washington, DC Robert Lincoln Present Charles Guiteau
William McKinley Sept. 1901 Buffalo, NY—Pan American Expo Leon Czolgosz—”Fred Nieman” Robert Lincoln Present
Teddy Roosevelt October 1912 Milwaukee, WI—Campaigning for 1912 election John Shrank—”Dreams” he had “Bull Moose”
Franklin Roosevelt February 1933 Touring after 1932 election Miami, Fl—fishing trip Mayor of Chicago—Anton Cermack Guiseppe “Joe” Zangara
Harry Truman November 1950—Washington, DC Blaire House—Not staying in White House Rebels from Puerto Rico—Oscar Collazo, Griselio Torresola.
John Kennedy Dallas, TX—November 1963 Lee Harvey Oswald Conspiracy?
Gerald Ford Sept. 1975 Women involved California
Ronald Reagan March 1981 Washington, DC—Breakfast meeting John Hinkley Strange reasons for shooting
Last Recorded attempt in 1981 Ronald Reagan John Hinkley Jr.
Two Assassins Killed Before Trial: John Wilkes Booth Lee Harvey Oswald
Two Assassinations Believed to Be Part of a Conspiracy: Abraham Lincoln Harry Truman
Two Men not actually President at time of Assassination: Franklin Roosevelt Teddy Roosevelt
One President with TWO attempts on his life: Gerald Ford
Four Attempts were successful: Abraham Lincoln James Garfield William McKinley John Kennedy
Four Points of Similarity: All men small in stature < than three generations from Europe—Immigrant failures. Catholic Connection Personal tragedy in their own life