The Conspiracy And Assassination Of 1865

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The Conspiracy and Assassination of 1865
President Abraham Lincoln dreamt about his own death (Bishop 56). He even stated one day to his bodyguard, “Crook, do you know, I believe there are men who want to take my life? And I have no doubt they will do so” (Stackpole 10). Unfortunately, this dream and his thoughts became real. John Wilkes Booth initially made plans to kidnap President Lincoln; however, he changed his plans and developed a conspiracy with others to assassinate President Lincoln and other important government officers.
John Wilkes Booth disliked President Lincoln, a Republican. Booth’s reasons for disliking the President included that he was seen as a possible threat to everything the South stood for, i.e., his stance against slavery, and his membership in the Republican party (Otfinoski 22). Booth was actually stunned when he found out that his brother, Edwin, had voted for Lincoln in 1860 and that he would vote for him again if and when the time came (Bishop 62).
As a result of his feelings he initially made a plan to kidnap Lincoln and bring him to the South for a handsome ransom (Otfinoski 29). Confederate prisoners of war were to be released in exchange for the President, however, this plan failed because Lincoln changed his plans.
After the failure of this initial plan, Booth proceeded with numerous others.
Late in1864, a plan was devised to kidnap Lincoln during the summer while he was traveling on horseback from the cottage on the grounds of the U.S. Soldier’s home to Washington City. Their

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plan was to halt the carriage containing Lincoln. Along with others, Booth planned to use chloroform or to gag and bind the President. Lincoln would then be transported out of the city into secessionist countryside that was southeast of Washington (Stackpole 10). Lincoln discarded this idea because of the weather. Booth abandoned the arrangement because Lincoln no longer went regu...