Eight presidents have died in office of the United States of America. Four of those eight have been assassinated. President Abraham Lincoln was the first to be assassinated. Lincoln’s assassination threw the nation into depression and a hunt to find the assassin. Lincoln’s last speech was his inaugural address to his second term in office, March 4, 1865.Many people were there that rainy day to see him take the oath. One of the many was John Wilkes Booth, a confederate sympathizer with wit and charm that could make any woman swoon. His good looks made him a famous actor. His fiancee, Lucy Hale, is next to him. Her father, U.S. Senator John Parker Hale, does not know of their engagement, for he would not approve of the actor. Booth …show more content…
Seward’s slave, William Bell, answers the door at Powell's knock, said that no one is to disturb Seward. But Powell is persistent in saying that he has medicine for him that he must deliver personally. Bell gives in and leads him up the stairs. Upon hearing heavy footsteps, Sewards eldest son, Augustus, comes out into the hall and stops Powell. Powell argues that he must deliver it. Augustus has none of it and reaches for the medicine. But Powell pulls away, and beats Augustus senseless with his gun, breaking it in the process. Bell runs into the street screaming murder. Herold sees this and rides away, leaving Powell's horse. In the house, Powell is fighting his way into Seward's bedroom. Private Robertson, an assigned military nurse, tries to stop him but is no match for Powell. They fight, but Powell subdues him with his knife. Seward’s daughter, Francis, stands between him and the attacker, pleading him to stop. He punches her in the face, and she slumps to the floor. Powell stands over Seward now stabbing, at him. A jaw splint worn by Seward helped to save his life by deflecting the knife away from his jugular vein. Powell, now in a hurry, leaves him out cold. Frederick, the second oldest, and Robertson try to block his escape but ends up unconscious. Powell makes a mad dash outside but only finds a horse. He mounts his ride and gallops into the
When Abraham Lincoln won the presidency in 1860 the Union was divided. He accepted his presidential duties knowing that he was working with a nation that no longer remained united. Seven of the southern states had already seceded from the Union and were beginning to refer to themselves as the Confederates. What he had now were free states and slave states. When Lincoln gave his Inaugural Address he attempted to do so in a way that would not dissuade his chances of gaining support in the southern states, especially when it involved the institution of slavery. However, he also made it clear in his address that he believed a secure and united nation was of utmost importance and he rejected the ideas
On April 11, two days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s submission, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his last public address, during which he designated a merciful Reconstruction plans and encouraged sympathy and unprejudiced mind throughout the procedure. He said that the Confederate states had not ever left the Union, which was in direct opposing side to the views of Radical Republican Congressmen.
In Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, He talks about the Civil War America was facing at the time. In his speech, his exaggerative diction, allusions to the Bible, and appeals to emotion helped strengthen and portray his point of view.
Davis claimed that he was not happy that Lincoln had been assassinated even though one man claimed he was. Lincoln was fair to the South and was respected in the North. His successor did not respect the South like Lincoln did and the people of the North did not respect him. Reconstruction would have been much smoother if Lincoln was still president. He would have been fair and treated them as equals while Lincoln’s successor Andrew Johnson vetoed crucial bills. Lincoln would have handled reconstruction better, and the South would have benefited from it. So there was no reason for Davis to want Lincoln to be dead. The next document is a letter from Carl Schurz to a newspaper about the mindset the people of Savanna Georgia have. He stated that
Have you ever wondered that life was the cheapest thing on earth? Everyone has a life; so why is it not the cheapest thing on earth? Because one’s life is meaningful making it valuable, and as soon as one’s life is taken away it becomes worthless. Many famous people like leaders, role models, and historical figures have died because of or for what they believe in. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated because of his strong beliefs to abolish slavery and firm action to uphold his opinions. Although Abraham Lincoln gains much respect as President, some people dislike his opinions and beliefs, causing many controversial thoughts between society. Many peoples’ mixed opinions on Lincoln led to one particular
One of the most tragic moments throughout all American history in my opinion is the Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. With no surprise I am writing about certain event that occurred leading up to, during, and after this unfortunate event. This historical event is clouded with conspiracy but I will try to avoid specifics of that particular view.
One shot fired and the whole country becomes paralyzed. April 14, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre. Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth and became paralyzed after the shot. At the time Lincoln was sitting with his wife in the presidential box at the theatre when the shot rang out hitting Lincoln in the side of his head. The unjust assassination of President Lincoln being shot in the head caused distress leading to delayed plans of reconstruction, all of which was caused by the belief of one confederate sympathizer.
Lincoln was then carried across the street to Peterson’s Boarding House, where he ended up dying the next morning. John’s poster was plastered everywhere with a “wanted” sign above it, offering a reward for the arrest of John and his accomplices. Booth’s reasoning was just because he thought it would aid the South after they just surrendered to federal forces. It nearly had the opposite effect, ending Lincoln’s plans of having a generous peace. Instead, the whole country grieved over the President’s death. Now the millions who were celebrating the war’s end were now mourning over their great leader. Lincoln was the first president in U.S. history to be assassinated. Although, “It turned out that the shooting of the President was central to a plot in which the other targets were Seward and the recently installed Vice President, Andrew Jackson.” (“Peter Burchard, 178”) “As the 9-car funeral train carried President Lincoln home for burial in Springfield, Illinois people showed up at train stations all along the way to pay their respects.” (“ The Assassination of President
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He was the first president die by assassination. According to Wikipedia, he was shot on his head when he was watching the play with his wife at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. On April 15, Abraham Lincoln took the last breath on 7.22 am. The investigation was opened after the assassination. The grudge and revenge on Lincoln after American Civil war was one of the reasons behind the assassination.
Out of the forty-four presidents, four of them have been assassinated. One being William McKinley the twenty-fifth president. William McKinley was a schoolteacher, enlisted in the army, studied law, got into politics, became governor, and became president of the United States.
As Ulysses S. Grant, Commanding General of the Union Army of the United States of America, during the Civil War, I strongly believe that our President, Abraham Lincoln is innocent regarding all charges being pressed on him today. I was born in Ohio on April 27in 1822, and I was proud to be able to serve during in the Civil War, after joining a volunteer regime in Illinois, and quickly showing off my skill and ascending the ranks, to eventually be appointed Commanding General of the Union Army. The charges that The accusation most closely related to me personally is Lincoln’s subverting the efforts of the Union in the war by appointing military officers not fit for such a responsibility, and then proceeding to manipulate their decisions and
The assassination of President Lincoln was so tragic because both Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth both believed they were doing the right thing. Abraham Lincoln wanted freedom for all because he believed that was right. He knew not everyone agreed and that was why America was having a Civil War but he felt that it was the right thing to do. John Wilkes Booth believed that there should be slaves in the south and did not agree with President Lincoln at all. He believed that everyone really agreed with his way of thinking but they were too scared to stop him. John Wilkes Booth thought he was doing the right thing he thought people would love and honor him for killing Lincoln. It’s interesting
Many historians get assassinated in this throughout the years four presidents have been assassinated. Abraham Lincoln got assassinated on February 12th, 1809 by John Wilkes. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was unjust because he freed slaves and he united the country; however some people believe he started the civil war. Abraham Lincoln freed slaves, he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation then all the slaves was free but not right away. According to the Emancipation Proclamation “All person held as slaves within any state or designated part of a state that people whereof shall be then there forward, and forever free” (Lincoln 1).
John Wilkes Booth was born in Maryland, 1838. He was known for being an actor and he made 20,000 a year. He had a very strong hatred for Abraham Lincoln, he was very racist and believed the African Americans should not have any rights. Booth also would blame Lincoln for all the south’s problems. He was also known as the most handsome and charming man known during his time.
Ford’s Theater was the setting of one of the saddest times in American history, Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Lincoln’s assassination is a well known event but did you know that John Wilkes Booth, the assassin, wasn’t the only one in on this killing, nor was Abraham Lincoln the only person planned on being killed?