The Motive Behind Lincoln's Shocking Assassination | I Was There (Season 1)

Summary

This script recounts the tragic assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theater. It delves into Booth's background, his motivations rooted in Southern sympathies and the Confederate cause, and his role as an actor. The assassination itself is described in detail, highlighting Booth's close proximity to Lincoln and his quick escape. Despite medical efforts, Lincoln dies from his wound the next morning. The script emphasizes the tragic timing of the event, as the nation was still reeling from the Civil War, and explores the deep personal and political conflicts behind Booth's actions.

Takeaways

• 😀 President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theater at midnight and would die a few hours later at 7:22 AM.
• 😀 John Wilkes Booth, the assassin, grew up in a pro-slavery family and was deeply involved in Confederate sympathies.
• 😀 Booth had previously performed in front of the Lincolns twice at Ford's Theater, one of those times being 17 months before the assassination.
• 😀 Booth's hatred for Lincoln and the Union was evident, even threatening him during a play, though Lincoln was likely unaware of the menace.
• 😀 Booth used a small .44 Derringer gun for the assassination, which required him to get dangerously close to Lincoln due to its single-shot capacity.
• 😀 Booth was able to gain access to Lincoln's box because of his fame as an actor and his recognition by the president's valet.
• 😀 After the shooting, many theatergoers initially believed it was part of the performance, unaware of the real tragedy unfolding.
• 😀 Lincoln was carried to a nearby boarding house, and doctors worked desperately to save him, but the wound was fatal.
• 😀 The bullet had damaged Lincoln’s brain, and despite immediate medical care, his survival was never likely given the nature of the wound.
• 😀 A doctor, Charles Leale, was one of the first to attend to Lincoln and helped clear blood clots that temporarily stabilized the president.
• 😀 Lincoln's death was inevitable by morning, even with the medical intervention of the time, highlighting the severity of the injury.

Q & A

What was John Wilkes Booth's connection to the Confederate cause?

John Wilkes Booth grew up in a slave-owning family in Maryland, a state sympathetic to the Confederacy. His beliefs were shaped by his upbringing, and he strongly supported the Confederate cause, even writing that slavery was a 'blessing' for African Americans.

How did Booth's relationship with the theater influence his assassination of Lincoln?

Booth was an actor, and Ford's Theater was his home turf. He was familiar with the venue and the people there, which helped him gain access to Lincoln's box. His fame as an actor allowed him to move more freely, ultimately enabling him to carry out the assassination.

What was the significance of the Mason-Dixon line in Booth's life?

The Mason-Dixon line symbolized the divide between the North and South. Booth's brother, Edwin, told him he could act in theaters below the line in the South, while Edwin would take the North. This geographical division reflected their differing allegiances, with Booth identifying strongly with Southern chivalry.

How did Lincoln respond to the possible threat from John Wilkes Booth during the play 'The Marble Heart'?

During the play, Lincoln noticed Booth staring at him intensely. When Lincoln's sister-in-law remarked that Booth seemed to be threatening him, Lincoln responded nonchalantly, saying, 'Yeah, he's staring a little hard at me, isn't he?' Lincoln had received many death threats, so he may not have taken this one seriously.

What were the circumstances surrounding Lincoln's assassination?

On the night of the assassination, Lincoln was sitting in a box at Ford's Theater with his wife, Mary, and guests. Booth, carrying a concealed .44 Derringer, entered the box and shot Lincoln in the back of the head. Many theatergoers initially thought it was part of the play until Mary Lincoln screamed that the president had been shot.

What was the immediate response after Lincoln was shot?

After Booth shot Lincoln, many people in the theater believed it was a staged part of the play. However, when Mary Lincoln screamed, 'The president's been shot!', the reality of the situation became apparent. Booth escaped, and Lincoln was immediately attended to by doctors.

How did the doctors treat Lincoln's injury after he was shot?

Doctors quickly attended to Lincoln and worked to clear blood clots from the wound, which helped keep him alive through the night. Despite their efforts, the bullet had caused severe damage to his brain, and the treatment could not prevent his eventual death.

Why was Lincoln carried to a boarding house rather than to the White House?

Due to the severity of Lincoln's injury and the difficult, unpaved road, a carriage ride to the White House would have been too risky. Instead, Lincoln was carried to a nearby boarding house, where doctors continued to attempt to save his life.

How did the soldiers who carried Lincoln to the boarding house end up in that position?

The soldiers who carried Lincoln to the boarding house were at Ford's Theater on special pass. They were not expecting to be involved in such a tragic event and were just following orders, never realizing they would end up carrying the dying president.

What was the impact of the medical treatment on Lincoln's survival?

Although the doctors worked to clear blood clots and keep Lincoln alive, the bullet wound was too severe. Modern medicine could have potentially prolonged his life or alleviated some of his suffering, but the nature of the injury meant that Lincoln's death was inevitable.