The Plot to Assassinate Lincoln U.S. History The Plot to Assassinate Lincoln

Background: The Shooter John Wilkes Booth Born May, 10 1838 in Bel Air, Maryland--a Southern city Began interest in theatrics in 1855 at the Charles Street Theater in Baltimore Booth became a common actor at the theater In September 1858 Booth moved to Richmond, Virginia to act at the Marshall Theater At Richmond, Booth became accustomed and sympathized to the southern politics Booth never joined the Confederate army but did smuggle medical supplies from the North during the Civil War

The Victim Abraham Lincoln Born on February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky In 1842, he married Mary Todd a women from Lexington, Kentucky In 1847, Lincoln was elected to the House of Representatives In 1856, he went to the ran against Stephen A. Douglas in a losing effort to get to the U.S Senate as a Republican In 1860, he ran for President against Stephen Douglas and won the election

The Beginning The Plot: Summer 1864 Booth developed plans to give the Confederates an advantage in the war Planned to kidnap Lincoln with a group of friends Wanted to hold Lincoln for ransom to free Confederate POWs Co-conspirators included Samuel Arnold, Michael O’Laughlen, John Surratt, Lewis Powell, George Atzerodt and David Harold with the help of Dr. Samuel Mudd Booth would use John Surratt’s wife Mary Surratt’s boarding house to hold his meetings about his plans

First Attempt On January 18, 1865 Booth learned that Lincoln was expected to attend a play at Ford’s Theater Booth assembled his conspirators and waited in the back of the theater Lincoln didn’t show to the theater, forcing Booth to wait for another time

Second Attempt March 17, 1865: Booth learned that Lincoln would attend a play for the Union troops at Campbell Hospital Booth, again, assembled the group to wait on the road to kidnap Lincoln Lincoln did not show again and the group became angry at Booth

April 14, 1865 Booth went into the Ford Theater on the morning of April 14, 1865 and learned that Lincoln would attend the play “Our American Cousin” Booth planned that night to kill Lincoln Booth also gave instructions to his conspirators Atzerodt was to kill vice-president Andrew Johnson Powell was to kill Secretary of State William Seward along with Harold

The End of Lincoln At 8:30 Lincoln and his wife arrived at Ford’s Theater to watch the play Booth arrived an hour later with a derringer and a hunting knife, after having a drink at a saloon next door Booth entered Ford’s Theater at 10:07, ascending the backstage stairs to Lincoln’s booth Lincoln’s bodyguard was momentarily absent Booth moved into the room At 10:15. Booth pointed the gun at Lincoln’s head and fired Henry Rathbone, a friend of Lincoln’s, tried to take Booth down, but got stabbed in the arm Booth jumped 11 feet to the stage, snapping his fibula and yelling “Sic Semper Tyrannis” or “Thus Always to Tyrants” Booth, then, escaped out the back door and fled the city

The Conspirators Atzerodt never made an attempt at killing Johnson Powell stabbed Seward, but did not kill him The conspirators met in Maryland and went to Dr. Mudd’s house to hide From there they traveled south and stopped at Garrett’s farm in Port Royal Virginia, were federal authorities caught them On the morning of April 16, 1865 Booth and Harold were trapped by federal troops Harold gave up, but Booth refused to come out Federal troops set the barn on fire, forcing Booth out Booth, however, remained in the barn until he was shot to death

Lincoln Dead Lincoln pronounced dead on April 15, 1865 at 7:22 a.m. from a GSW to the head V.P. Andrew Johnson immediately replaced as president The South, under Reconstruction, allowed to re-enter the Union

The Conspirators All but two were sentenced “To be hanged by the neck until he or she be dead.” Dr Samuel Mudd and Michael O’Laughlin were sentenced to life in prison. Lewis Paine, David Herold, Samuel Arnold, Michael O’Laughlin, George Atzerodt, Mary Surrat, John Surrat, Edward “Ned” Spangler