President Abraham Lincoln was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth during a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The assassination occurred just days after the Civil War's end, dramatically altering the course of American history.
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln stands as one of the most pivotal moments in American history. On April 14, 1865, just days after the Civil War's end, the 16th President of the United States attended a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. - a decision that would forever change the course of the nation.
While watching the comedy "Our American Cousin," John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer, entered Lincoln's private box and fatally shot him. The president died the following morning at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865. Lincoln's death marked the first presidential assassination in U.S. history and occurred during a crucial period of national reconstruction and healing.
Lincoln's Final Days at the White House
#The final days of Abraham Lincoln at the White House revolved around post-Civil War reconstruction efforts from April 9-14, 1865. Following General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, Lincoln focused on reunifying the nation through several key activities:
Presidential Duties & Events
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Delivered a speech on April 11, 1865, addressing post-war voting rights
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Met with cabinet members to discuss reconstruction policies
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Reviewed military reports from remaining Confederate territories
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Signed pardons for several Confederate soldiers
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Spent evening hours with his son Tad reading Shakespeare
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Took carriage rides with Mary Todd Lincoln through Washington D.C.
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Shared breakfast meetings with Vice President Andrew Johnson
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Discussed future political plans with Secretary of State William Seward
| Date | Key Activity |
|---|---|
| April 9, 1865 | Lee's surrender at Appomattox |
| April 11, 1865 | Final public address on reconstruction |
| April 13, 1865 | Last cabinet meeting |
| April 14, 1865 | Morning meeting with cabinet & evening at Ford's Theatre |
Lincoln maintained a rigorous schedule during these final days, starting his workday at 8 AM in the White House office. His last recorded White House document bears his signature from 3 PM on April 14, 1865, just hours before attending the fateful performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre.
The Night at Ford's Theatre
#President Lincoln arrived at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865, at 8:30 PM to attend a performance of "Our American Cousin" with his wife Mary Todd Lincoln, Major Henry Rathbone, and Clara Harris.
The Play in Progress
#The comedy performance started at 8:00 PM with actress Laura Keene playing the lead role of Florence Trenchard. Lincoln's party occupied the President's Box, a private booth on the second level decorated with American flags. At approximately 10:15 PM, during Act III Scene 2, several audience members noted John Wilkes Booth entering the theatre's main entrance. Booth, familiar with the play's script timing, waited in the wings near the President's Box for a specific line that typically generated loud laughter.
John Wilkes Booth's Fatal Shot
#At 10:25 PM, during a moment of audience laughter, Booth entered the Presidential Box through the unguarded door. He moved silently behind Lincoln, who sat in a rocking chair, and fired a single shot from his derringer pistol at point-blank range. The .44 caliber bullet entered Lincoln's skull behind his left ear. Major Rathbone attempted to apprehend Booth, but the assassin slashed his arm with a knife. Booth then leaped from the box onto the stage below, shouting "Sic semper tyrannis!" - Latin for "Thus always to tyrants." Despite breaking his leg in the 12-foot fall, he escaped through the theatre's back door to a waiting horse.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 PM | Play begins |
| 8:30 PM | Lincoln arrives |
| 10:15 PM | Booth enters theatre |
| 10:25 PM | Shot fired |
The Assassination Timeline: April 14, 1865
#The events of April 14, 1865, unfolded in a precise sequence leading to President Lincoln's assassination at Ford's Theatre. The timeline captures the critical moments from Lincoln's morning activities to the aftermath of the shooting.
Key Events Leading to 10:15 PM
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8:00 AM: Lincoln meets with his cabinet to discuss reconstruction policies
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11:00 AM: Signs official documents including military pardons
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3:00 PM: Takes an afternoon carriage ride with Mary Todd Lincoln
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7:30 PM: Departs White House for Ford's Theatre
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8:15 PM: Arrives late to the theatre due to a delay
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8:30 PM: Settles in the Presidential Box with Mrs. Lincoln Major Rathbone Clara Harris
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9:45 PM: Booth enters Ford's Theatre observes the President's location
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10:13 PM: Moves into position near the Presidential Box
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10:15 PM: Enters the box during a comedic scene in "Our American Cousin"
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10:25 PM: Doctor Charles Leale reaches Lincoln first provides emergency care
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10:30 PM: Military guards secure the theatre exits
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10:45 PM: Lincoln carried to William Petersen's boarding house across the street
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10:58 PM: Secretary of War Edwin Stanton arrives takes command
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11:00 PM: Doctors determine the wound mortal
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11:15 PM: Mary Todd Lincoln enters room intermittently throughout the night
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11:30 PM: Government officials gather to document witness statements
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12:00 AM: Soldiers establish perimeter around Washington
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1:00 AM: Physicians continue monitoring Lincoln's deteriorating condition
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7:22 AM April 15: Lincoln pronounces dead
| Time | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 10:15 PM | Presidential Box | Shot fired |
| 10:25 PM | Theatre | First medical response |
| 10:45 PM | Petersen House | Lincoln relocated |
| 7:22 AM | Petersen House | Death pronounced |
Lincoln's Death and National Mourning
#President Abraham Lincoln died at 7:22 AM on April 15, 1865, at the Petersen House across from Ford's Theatre. His death marked the beginning of an unprecedented period of national grief that transformed America's political landscape.
The President's Final Hours
#After the shooting, Dr. Charles Leale discovered a single bullet wound behind Lincoln's left ear. Physicians monitored Lincoln's condition through the night as he lay in a coma at the Petersen House:
- Secretary of War Edwin Stanton conducted preliminary investigations from an adjacent room
- Mary Todd Lincoln visited her husband's bedside three times during the night
- Lincoln's breathing became increasingly labored after 6:00 AM
- His pulse failed at 7:20 AM
- Dr. Robert King Stone officially pronounced death at 7:22 AM
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10:45 PM (Apr 14) | Arrival at Petersen House |
| 3:00 AM | Pulse begins weakening |
| 6:00 AM | Breathing becomes irregular |
| 7:22 AM | Death pronounced |
- Federal authorities closed public buildings for two weeks
- Over 1.5 million Americans viewed Lincoln's body during its 1,700-mile funeral train journey
- New York Stock Exchange suspended trading for one week
- Cities across 7 northern states hosted public viewings
- Congress established the Secret Service on April 14, 1865
- President Andrew Johnson's reconstruction policies differed dramatically from Lincoln's plans
| Economic Impact | Duration |
|---|---|
| NYSE Closure | 7 days |
| Federal Buildings Shutdown | 14 days |
| Funeral Train Journey | 20 days |
The Hunt for Booth and His Conspirators
#Federal authorities launched a massive manhunt for John Wilkes Booth immediately after Lincoln's assassination. Over 1,000 Union soldiers searched locations across Maryland Virginia in pursuit of Booth his accomplices.
The investigation revealed a broader conspiracy involving multiple targets:
- Lewis Powell attacked Secretary of State William Seward
- George Atzerodt abandoned his mission to kill Vice President Johnson
- David Herold aided Booth's escape through southern Maryland
- Mary Surratt provided logistical support from her boarding house
Booth's escape route included these key locations:
| Location | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Surratt Tavern | April 14 | Collected weapons cached supplies |
| Dr. Mudd's Home | April 15 | Received medical treatment for broken leg |
| Pine Thicket | April 16-21 | Hid from search parties |
| Garrett Farm | April 26 | Final standoff with Union soldiers |
Union cavalry troops cornered Booth Mary Herold at Richard Garrett's farm in Virginia on April 26, 1865. After refusing to surrender, soldiers set fire to the barn where Booth was hiding. Sergeant Boston Corbett shot Booth through a gap in the barn's wall, striking him in the neck. Booth died three hours later.
The military tribunal convicted eight conspirators:
- Four received death sentences: Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold George Atzerodt
- Three received life sentences: Samuel Arnold, Michael O'Laughlen Dr. Samuel Mudd
- One received a six-year sentence: Edman Spangler
The executions took place on July 7, 1865, at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. Mary Surratt became the first woman executed by the federal government.
Legacy of the Lincoln Assassination
#Lincoln's assassination reshaped American politics, society, and culture in profound ways. The event transformed him from a controversial wartime president into a martyred national hero, with his approval rating rising from 22% in 1864 to 94% by 1865.
The assassination impacted key historical developments:
- Reconstruction Policies: Andrew Johnson's lenient approach toward the South deviated from Lincoln's balanced vision, leading to increased racial tensions
- Presidential Security: The creation of the Secret Service established formal protection protocols for U.S. presidents
- Theatre Regulations: Ford's Theatre remained closed for 103 years, reopening as a national historic site in 1968
- Civil Rights: Lincoln's death delayed African American civil rights progress by several decades
Cultural impact remains visible through:
- Memorial Sites: The Lincoln Memorial (1922) attracts 7.8 million visitors annually
- Academic Studies: Over 16,000 books published about Lincoln's assassination
- Popular Media: 125+ films feature Lincoln's assassination as a central plot point
- Historical Preservation: Ford's Theatre museum displays 1,300+ artifacts related to the assassination
Here's a comparison of historical site visitation numbers:
| Location | Annual Visitors | Year Established |
|---|---|---|
| Ford's Theatre | 650,000 | 1968 |
| Petersen House | 450,000 | 1975 |
| Lincoln Memorial | 7.8 million | 1922 |
| Lincoln Tomb | 350,000 | 1874 |
- Enhanced screening protocols at public events
- Restricted access to presidential venues
- Advanced surveillance systems
- Coordinated multi-agency protection details
- Regular security threat assessments
Key Takeaways
#- Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., and died the following morning at 7:22 a.m.
- John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer and actor, shot Lincoln during a performance of "Our American Cousin" before escaping through the theatre's back door.
- The assassination occurred just days after the Civil War's end, during a crucial period of national reconstruction, marking the first presidential assassination in U.S. history.
- The manhunt for Booth lasted 12 days, ending on April 26, 1865, when he was cornered and killed at Garrett's Farm in Virginia.
- Eight conspirators were convicted for their roles in the assassination plot, with four receiving death sentences and three receiving life imprisonment.
- Lincoln's death dramatically transformed his legacy, turning him from a controversial wartime president into a martyred national hero, with his approval rating rising from 22% to 94%.
Conclusion
#Abraham Lincoln's assassination on April 14 1865 stands as one of the most pivotal moments in American history. The tragic event not only marked the loss of a president but also dramatically altered the course of post-Civil War reconstruction.
The assassination's ripple effects continue to shape American society from enhanced presidential security measures to the enduring legacy of Lincoln himself. His transformation from a controversial wartime president to a beloved national icon demonstrates how this singular event reshaped the nation's collective memory.
Today Lincoln's legacy lives on through countless memorials books and films while the lessons learned from his assassination continue to influence modern security protocols and presidential protection measures.