Who was responsible for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln?

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was carried out by John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer. Booth was motivated by a strong resentment towards Lincoln's policies, particularly his efforts to unify the country and abolish slavery. He believed that by killing Lincoln, he could revive the Confederate cause, which had been severely weakened by the Union's victory in the Civil War.

On the night of April 14, 1865, Booth shot Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Following the assassination, Booth fled the scene and was pursued by federal authorities, leading to a nationwide manhunt. His actions not only resulted in the death of the president but also had significant repercussions for the nation, including a heightened sense of fear and unrest in the post-war period.

Understanding Booth's motivations and the context of his actions is crucial for grasping the complexities of the period following Lincoln's assassination and the impact it had on American society.