The Day Lincoln Was Shot

Booth's shift from kidnapping to assassination was triggered by Lincoln's April 11 speech announcing plans to grant citizenship and voting rights to African Americans. This radical announcement, made just days after Lee's surrender at Richmond, convinced Booth that Lincoln intended to completely destroy the South. Enraged by what he viewed as the ultimate betrayal, Booth abandoned his kidnapping scheme for political leverage and instead resolved to murder the President.

Earlier scenes establish Booth's deep belief in slavery as a proper way of life and his view of Lincoln as a tyrant who had destroyed the Confederacy.

Lincoln had a prophetic dream shortly before his assassination in which he heard cries echoing through the White House and saw a coffin in the East Room surrounded by mourners crying that the President had been murdered by an assassin. This dream reflected his fatalistic acceptance that he might not survive his presidency, especially given the numerous death threats he received from Confederate sympathizers.

Lewis Thornton Powell attacked Seward at his mansion but failed to kill him because Seward was protected by a metal surgical brace he was wearing due to a recent carriage accident. The blow from Powell's knife struck the metal brace instead of Seward's throat, and the Secretary survived despite being severely cut and battered. Powell also had to flee when other household members intervened.

Booth assigned Powell to kill Seward as part of the coordinated assassination plot against multiple government leaders.

George Atzerodt was assigned to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson at the Kirkwood Hotel but lost his nerve and could not bring himself to shoot. He abandoned the attempt without firing a single shot, allowing Johnson to escape unharmed. This failure was one of several critical breakdowns in Booth's coordinated conspiracy that ultimately doomed the plot's chances of success.

After shooting Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, Booth fled into the night, escaping the theater by leaping to the stage and stabbing Major Rathbone in the process. A massive two-week manhunt ensued across Maryland and Virginia. Booth was eventually tracked to Garrett Farm in Virginia, where he was shot by Boston Corbett inside a burning barn on April 26, 1865. He died on the front porch a few hours later, reportedly saying he died for his country.

Mary Surratt was convicted of conspiracy for her role in Booth's plot. She owned the boarding house in Washington where the conspirators met and plotted. Although her level of direct involvement is debated by historians, she was found guilty of providing assistance to the conspirators. She was hanged along with three other co-conspirators (Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt) in July 1865, becoming the first woman executed by the U.S. federal government.

Lincoln's April 11 speech announced his support for granting citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, a position that horrified many in the North and South alike. For Confederate sympathizers like Booth, this represented the final betrayal, they had believed the war was fought over preserving the Union, but Lincoln now appeared to be fundamentally transforming the nation by extending full citizenship to former slaves. This pushed Booth from political opposition to radical action.

Booth was a famous actor who had performed at Ford's Theatre many times and knew the venue intimately. This familiarity allowed him to plan his escape route precisely and move through the theater undetected. Additionally, the theater was crowded on April 14, 1865, during a performance of 'Our American Cousin,' providing both cover and a ready-made audience for the national shock that would follow.

Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theatre on the evening of April 14, 1865. Doctors attended to him at the theater before he was carried across the street to the Petersen House. He never regained consciousness and died the following morning at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865, after lingering for approximately eight hours surrounded by his family and friends.

An ironic outcome of Lincoln's assassination was that his successor, Andrew Johnson, proved far harsher toward the defeated South than Lincoln ever would have been. While Lincoln had advocated for mercy and quick Reconstruction, Johnson implemented policies that were much more punitive and allowed Southern states to enact Black Codes. This stark contrast underscored the tragic loss of Lincoln's more compassionate vision for reuniting the nation.

Beyond his Confederate sympathies and belief in slavery, Booth was driven by personal grievances. He came from a famous acting family, his father Junius Brutus Booth was a legendary performer and his brother Edwin Booth was even more acclaimed, and John felt overshadowed and insignificant by comparison. He desperately wanted to leave his mark on history, believing that killing Lincoln would achieve the legendary status he craved.

The film establishes early that Booth feels resentful of his family's theatrical legacy and seeks recognition.

Booth assembled a small group of Confederate sympathizers for his plot. Lewis Thornton Powell (also called Lewis Paine) was assigned to kill Secretary of State William Seward. David E. Herold served as Powell's guide to the Seward residence. George Atzerodt was tasked with killing Vice President Andrew Johnson at the Kirkwood Hotel. Each man had specific instructions, though the coordinated attacks largely failed.