American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

The final motivating factor that influenced Booth to assassinate Lincoln is that he did it for the good of the country. Booth believed that his country wanted the same as he did, although that was not the case. In Booth’s diary it states, “The country is not what it was. This forced Union is not what I have loved. I do not care what becomes of me. I have no desire to outlive my country.” In the statement he is explaining that since Lincoln has been the president he has turn the country “upside

Booth was now in the box of the theatre. On April 14, 1865, just after 10 p.m., Booth pulled a .44-calibre derringer and shot President Lincoln in the back of the head. “He grappled briefly with Union officer Maj. Henry Rathbone (who, along with his fiancée, was in the box as the Lincoln’s guest), swung himself over the balustrade, and leaped off it, reportedly shouting, “Sic semper tyrannis!” (the motto of the state of Virginia, meaning “Thus always to tyrants!”) or “The South is avenged!” or both” (Encyclopedia Britannica 2017). Booth next jumped off the stage, breaking his leg in the process, but managed to make it to his getaway horse before anyone in the shocked crowd could stop him (Biography April 28, 2017). The attempt to kill Seward did not succeed, but Lincoln died shortly after seven o’clock the following morning. (Encyclopedia Britannica 2017).

When Booth found out that the president was coming to Ford’s Theater on April 14th, 1865, he was very determined to kill him. In chapter one, it reads, “Booth heard the big news: In just eight hours, the man who was subject of all his hating and plotting would stand on the very steps where he sat now.” This is talking about how excited Booth was when he found out the president was coming to the theater. Instantly, his mind started forming a cunning plan to annihilate the confederate leaders.

The twelve day chase for Abraham Lincoln’s assasin was over.” This shows that Booth

During the Civil War, Booth said he promised his mother that he would not join the Confederate army. Booth did however, undertake some action to support the Confederacy. According to some reports, Booth was actively engaged in smuggling medical supplies to Confederate forces in 1864.

The conflict of the Civil War tore the United States apart. John Wilkes Booth was a member of the Confederacy. He believed that slavery was necessary to the economy. On the night of April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth crept into the balcony of Ford’s Theatre and assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth, actor, murderer, and confederate spokesperson, is linked to the downfall of the South.

Booth then came up with a desperate plan in order to save the past. When Lincoln had won the civil war Booth then wanted to kill

John Wilkes jumped off from Lincoln’s box seated and landed so hard he broke his leg. John had to hurry because the army was immediately searching for him (History.com). John received aid from multiple Confederate sympathizers, but that didn't stop the military. Military units were soon filling the countryside since there was a $20,000 reward for whoever was to find him. Booth was staying in a friends barn. Soon Federal troops arrived at their destination to find John and his other friend, Herold (History.com). Herold willingly came out of the barn, but John refused. Union troops set the barn on fire. Booth was then shot in the barn. While weakening Booth muttered himself useless. Booth passed away just 3 hours after being shot (History.com). John Wilkes Booth passed away on April 26,

By the year of 1859 he showed his support for slavery. John did this by joining a Virginia Company that aimed for the capture and execution of John Brown. Booth had even become a secret agent for the Confederacy during the Civil War. While he was on his break from acting he had become involved in a confederacy to kidnap President Abraham Lincoln. It was planned out by bringing Lincoln to Richmond and ordering peace and if not so ransome release of Confederate

If Abraham Lincoln didn’t put a end to slavery, the assassination wouldn’t have occured. If Booth would have grew up differently; with a psychiatric disorder, it all would have been prevented. He grew up with a mental issue that caused him to be this way. He was hanging out with the wrong kind of people that put a bad influence on him. They convinced him to do this plan that he agreed on.

He was furious when the North beat the South and Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation, which meant that all slaves shall be free by the end of the war. He was a big supporter of the South as well as slavery and wanted revenge for the surrender of the South. In “Chasing Lincoln's Killer,” Booth had said, “I'm tired of all these kids waving the American flag” (Swanson 5 ). He had strongly supported slavery and was a racist figure in history. After the Proclamation was announced, Booth made a promise to God saying that he would kill the president. The four main targets for Booth’s assassination plot were General Ulysses Grant, Secretary of State William Seward, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and the main one President Lincoln. Grant didn't want to go to the play, and so he didn't show

Meanwhile back at the theatre, using a .44 caliber derringer pistol—a small, easily concealed handgun—Booth fired a single shot (timed so that that the audience’s laughter would mask the sound) into Lincoln’s brain at point-blank range before jumping to the stage and escaping into the night. (“TeachingHistory.com”:2010) The president’s friend, Major Rathbone, attempted to grab Booth but was slashed by Booth’s knife. Booth injured his leg badly when he jumped to the stage to escape, but he managed to hobble outside to his horse.(“History.com”2009) Booth was able to escape Ford’s Theater alive and he was on the run for 12 days, accompanied by another conspirator, David Herold. The pair went to the Surratt Tavern in Maryland, gathered supplies, went to see Dr. Mudd to have Booth’s broken leg set, and then headed through forest lands and swamps to Virginia. They were also aided by a former Confederate spy operative and by other Confederate sympathizers. Military forces were hot on their trail, and they found a person who directed them to a Virginia farm. At the Garrett Farm, Booth was fatally wounded and Herold surrendered. (“Fords.org”:N.D.) On July 7, George Atzerodt, Lewis Paine, David Herold, and John Surratt’s mother, Mary, were hanged in Washington. The execution of Mary Surratt is believed by some to have been a miscarriage of

During the Civil War, actor and Confederate supporter John Wilkes Booth is plotting the demise of President Abraham Lincoln. His family and even his fiancee don’t know how extreme his support for the Confederate cause is. Booth met with

One main factor was probably that Booth thought that Lincoln was a tyrant to get rid of. Booth thinks this due to Lincoln’s actions. These actions include the Emancipation Proclamation and not giving the South much power in politics. With that being said, Booth knew about the non-equal power due to him being a part of the know-nothing party.

John Harold Johnson was born on January 19, 1918, in Arkansas City, Arkansas, he was the grandsom of slaves. When John was eight years old his father died in a sawmill accident. And Johnson was raised by his mother and stepfather. He attended an overcrowded and segregated elementary school. He loved school so much he repeated the eight grade rather then discontinue his education. There was no high school for African Americans in his community. After a visit to his mother at the Chicago World Fair, they decided that opportuniy in the North were more plentiful; then in the South. Facing poverty on everyside of Arkansas during the Great Depression, the family moved to Chicago, Illnois. In 1933 Johnson entered the all black DuSable High School, while his mother and stepfather looked for jobs. He looked for work after school and during the summer months as well,