Edwin Booth's Assassination Analysis

John Wilkes Booth famously etched his name in the history books by successfully assassinating President Abraham Lincoln. It wasn’t the first time someone attempted to knock off a sitting President of the United States. It also was not the first time Booth had attempted to go after Lincoln. A kidnapping plot was foiled not long before Lincoln was shot at Ford Theater. This was the first time though the assassination was completed without failure. Before Booth was known to the world as an assassin, he lived quite an adventurous young life. Booth was born in Bel Air, Maryland on the 10th of May in 1838. He was one of many children in his family. Booth’s parents had a total of ten children. His life did not last very long as he was killed

He was also known as a pretty talented actor before he started to dive into the world of politics. Acting became a normal ritual for him at the tender age of seventeen. Staring in various plays gave him some notoriety and positive praise for his talents. John also had an older brother who acted as well. His name was Edwin Booth born five years earlier. Carter compares how Edwin has been labeled the “good” brother and John as the “bad”. Edwin was known as one of the greatest classical actors of his day. Although the comparison of the two had some ups and downs. Before the Lincoln assassination John was valued as the shining and happy one. Obviously this was before he was on a quest to take out the President of the United States. Edwin had his own sins he was facing, as he was an avid alcohol abuser.1 Even after Booth murdered Lincoln, Edwin went on living his life. Carter asserts how Edwin was surrounded by controversy at this time period but went on working in the public light and didn’t shy away.2 Edwin later passed away at the age of fifty-nine. He would have a very unique encounter with Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Lincoln which will be discussed in a later

The idea changed from kidnapping to finally deciding to kill him would be the best option. Harris would explain only weeks later the commanding officer of the Confederate Army, Robert E. Lee would surrender. This infuriated Booth and the individuals behind the fumbled kidnapping plan.5 A new plan was quickly devised and Lincoln wouldn’t be the only target. Vice President Johnson along with the Secretary of State William Seward would also be targets of the conspirators. This would all occur on the 14th of April 1865 at Fords Theatre in Washington D.C. President Lincoln would be there with his wife watching Our American Cousin. Harris notes the assassination went down relatively easy. Booth walked into the sitting box unnoticed to anyone. There was supposed to be a guard standing watch outside of the theater box. However, the bodyguard was vacant as he left the president unprotected.6 Booth would fire one shot into the back of Lincoln’s head moments after he had visual of the president. President Lincoln would never recover from the gunshot. Immediately, Booth fled the scene on horseback after breaking his leg during his escape. The Vice President was never harmed in the incident. Henretta and Brody assert that the death of Lincoln started a vigorous hatred that the Northerners had for the South. The death gave power to Andrew Johnson who did not retain the political or honorable