1. Bell Work
What do you know about Lincoln’s assassination?

2. The Plot to Assassinate Lincoln

3. Background: The Shooter
John Wilkes Booth
From MD
Family in theatre
Smuggled medical supplies from the North during the Civil War

4. 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

5. First Attempt
On January 18, 1865 expected to attend a play at Ford’s Theater
Booth waited in the back of the theater
Lincoln didn’t show to the theater

6. Second Attempt March 17, 1865 Lincoln would attend Campbell Hospital
Booth, again, assembled the group to wait on the road to kidnap Lincoln

7. Lincoln’s Second Inauguration: A change of plans
March 4, 1865: Lincoln’s Inaugural address
Booth and his conspirators were in the crowd listening
Booth became outraged when Lincoln told about his Emancipation Proclamation and decided there that he must assassinate Lincoln

8. April 14, 1865
Booth went into the Ford Theater on the morning of April 14, 1865
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

9. The End of Lincoln Lincoln arrived late
Booth entered Ford’s Theater at 10:07, ascending the backstage stairs to Lincoln’s booth
Lincoln’s bodyguard was absent
Booth moved into the room
Henry Rathbone got stabbed in the arm
“Sic Semper Tyrannis”
Booth, then, escaped out the back door

10. The Conspirators Atzerodt never made an attempt
Powell – Stabbed Seward and son
The conspirators hid
Caught in Port Royale VA
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

11. Lincoln Dead Lincoln pronounced dead on April 15, 1865 at 7:22 a.m.
V.P. Andrew Johnson immediately replaced as president

12. Wrap Up
Homework: What will happen to the South after the Civil War?