The Assassination

WHO:

Assassinator: John Wilkes Booth

WHERE:

Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C

During a production of Our American Cousin.

WHEN:                   

Good Friday, April 14, 1865

As the American Civil War was drawing to a close.

WHY:

Five days before the assassination, Robert E. Lee- a commanding general for the Army of Northern Virginia- surrendered to General Ulysses S.Grant. As part of a larger conspiracy

intended to rally the remaining Confederate troops to continue fighting, John Wilkes Booth was assigned to carry out the assassination of President Lincoln.

Booth plotted with Lewis Powell and George Atzerodt to kill Secretary of State William H. Seward and Vice President Andrew Johnson as well. By killing the top three in the Presidential line of succession, the desired results were to throw the Union Army into dismay. In the end, it was only President Lincoln's assassination that went according to plan; Powell only managed to wound Seward, while Atzerodt, Johnson's would-be assassin, lost his nerve and fled.