If You're Curious About These Questions...
You should listen to this audiobook
- Did you know that the plot to kill Abraham Lincoln was actually part of a much larger, more terrifying conspiracy to topple the entire U.S. government in a single night?
- Have you ever wondered how one of the most famous men in America managed to slip into the President’s private box unnoticed, despite the heightened security of a nation at war?
- Are you curious about the shocking motives and the pulse-pounding details of the 12-day manhunt that followed the most famous assassination in history?
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Key Takeaways from Killing Lincoln
- Understand how the end of the American Civil War in April 1865 triggered a surge of conspiracy plots, demonstrating why assassinations frequently occur at the conclusion of major wars.
- Discover the desperate final days of the Confederate army, including General Robert E. Lee's failed escape attempt at High Bridge that ultimately forced his historic surrender.
- Learn about the bizarre and constant death threats Abraham Lincoln faced before his assassination, ranging from poisoned fruit baskets to a plot involving a yellow fever-infected dress shirt.
- Uncover the dark motivations of John Wilkes Booth, whose actions were driven by deeply rooted white supremacist beliefs and a desperate thirst for personal recognition.
- Find out how a simple leak of information by an excited theater manager gave Booth the exact location and perfect opportunity to execute his deadly plan at Ford's Theater.
Learning Tools
Reinforce what you learned from Killing Lincoln
Mind Map
Killing Lincoln
Historical Context (April 1865)
End of the Civil War
Post-War Climate
Conspiracies & Threats
History of Danger
John Wilkes Booth
The Assassination (April 14, 1865)
Ford's Theater
Co-Conspirator Attack
Aftermath & Manhunt
Lincoln's Fate
Booth's Demise
Quiz — Test Your Understanding
Question 1 of 7
What was the primary motivation behind John Wilkes Booth's decision to assassinate President Lincoln?
Killing Lincoln — Full Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: Recommendation
Chapter 2: It is April 1865; the American Civil War nears its end, yet a plot against President Lincoln is looming.
Chapter 3: Though the Confederate army nearly escapes, it is finally forced to surrender on April 9, 1865.
Chapter 4: Lincoln was familiar with death threats; meanwhile, John Wilkes Booth carefully shapes his violent plans.
Chapter 5: John Wilkes Booth resolves to shoot Lincoln at the theater, and he executes his deadly plan.
Chapter 6: On April 14, 1865, President Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward become victims of a violent conspiracy.
Chapter 7: John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s killer, flees to Maryland, but is located and shot dead days later.
Killing Lincoln Summary & Overview
Killing Lincoln (2011) tells the story behind the assassination of president Abraham Lincoln, which took place in 1865, shortly after the Confederate army had surrendered, effectively putting an end to the US Civil War. Learn all about the conspirators who plotted the killing, what their motives were and the details surrounding the fateful night at Ford’s Theater.
Who Should Listen to Killing Lincoln?
- History buffs
- Readers curious about Lincoln’s assassination
- Civil War fanatics
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