Why Was Abraham Lincoln's Assassination Wrong
How troubled does someone need to be to assassinate one of the finest presidents this country has ever had? John Wilkes Booth grew up in a disorderly household. He was always hiding in the shadows of his actor family members. Anger quickly became a habit for Booth. Although John Wilkes Booth claims to have had his reasons for murdering Abraham Lincoln, this only explains, it does not excuse, the action (O’Reilly, 26). John Wilkes Booth pulled the trigger in Ford’s Theater on April 15, 1865 and assassinated the 16th president of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was unjustified because he worked to end slavery and lead our country humbly through the tremendous pressures put on him during the Civil War; however, some may believe the President was attempting to remove the Constitution
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and to wreck the cherished South (Hamner). Because Abraham Lincoln attempted to finish slavery, he should not have been assassinated. When this country still had slaves, it was arguably one of the most shameful times in America. Although, Lincoln could not necessarily end slavery himself, he made sure to get his point across in a three-hour speech in Illinois. He discussed all of the problems of slavery (Pruitt). Lincoln wanted blacks to be able to vote as well as be citizens. He argued they deserved to be because they fought as soldiers. Lincoln was thought to be the only man who could “bind up the nation’s wounds” after the war (Hamner). Also, he issued The Emancipation Proclamation, which let black soldiers serve in the war for the Union. This was the first step to ending slavery. If anything, the fact that Lincoln wanted things to be equal is a reason not to kill him. Also, this assignation was unjust because President Lincoln led our country humbly through tremendous pressures during the Civil War. Lincoln’s honest character and other traits make him stand out as a role model to other presidents. He grew up in a poor family but was taught good character. He persevered and worked hard his whole life to become the leader of our country (Roger). Lincoln allowed everyone to share their views without punishments, even if they disagreed with him (Moreton). Furthermore, he made the difficult decision to go to war instead of splitting the country in half. He served as Commander in Chief throughout the bloody war (J, Roger). A lot of lives were lost during the Civil War. Lincoln made sure to go and visit the hospitals where the wounded soldiers were to give them hope. He told funny stories to give them joy. He was nothing but a kind and generous man (Moreton). Lincoln didn’t harm anyone. He helped others more than he helped himself and that is not the description of a man who deserves to die. Some people believed Abraham Lincoln was attempting to remove or change the Constitution and wreck the cherished south but they were wrong for many reasons.
A large group of people believed killing Lincoln was a necessity to keeping slavery and the southern way of life (O’Reilly, 27). John Wilkes Booth thought it was his duty to kill the president. His hatred was so strong. In fact, he believed he was “the only man in America who can end the North’s oppression,” (O’Reilly, 26). People were wrong to think Lincoln would remove the Constitution because he did not have the power to do so. The Constitution authorized slavery so Lincoln left this alone and did not technically try to change that (Pruitt). Although, Lincoln did make the first steps to ending slavery, and that was one of the best things our country did. Slaves were treated as though their only life purpose was to help their owners. It was very “degrading.” The owners physically forced the slaves to work and if they did not, they were threated or beaten (Hamner). Slavery was, no doubt, horrible and Lincoln could see that and attempted to stop it. This was no reason to kill
him. Change scares a lot of people and that is why Lincoln was a threat. Booth did not want change; he was a proud member of his country and supported everything, including slavery. Booth thought ending slavery was a bad idea but if we killed everyone who disagreed with us, there would be a lot more deaths everyday. Also, Lincoln was not a threat to Booth or the country. He did not kill anyone. The only reason Booth killed Lincoln was because he was mislead and impulsive. In conclusion, there is no version of this story where it seems deserved to die.
and to wreck the cherished South (Hamner). Because Abraham Lincoln attempted to finish slavery, he should not have been assassinated. When this country still had slaves, it was arguably one of the most shameful times in America. Although, Lincoln could not necessarily end slavery himself, he made sure to get his point across in a three-hour speech in Illinois. He discussed all of the problems of slavery (Pruitt). Lincoln wanted blacks to be able to vote as well as be citizens. He argued they deserved to be because they fought as soldiers. Lincoln was thought to be the only man who could “bind up the nation’s wounds” after the war (Hamner). Also, he issued The Emancipation Proclamation, which let black soldiers serve in the war for the Union. This was the first step to ending slavery. If anything, the fact that Lincoln wanted things to be equal is a reason not to kill him. Also, this assignation was unjust because President Lincoln led our country humbly through tremendous pressures during the Civil War. Lincoln’s honest character and other traits make him stand out as a role model to other presidents. He grew up in a poor family but was taught good character. He persevered and worked hard his whole life to become the leader of our country (Roger). Lincoln allowed everyone to share their views without punishments, even if they disagreed with him (Moreton). Furthermore, he made the difficult decision to go to war instead of splitting the country in half. He served as Commander in Chief throughout the bloody war (J, Roger). A lot of lives were lost during the Civil War. Lincoln made sure to go and visit the hospitals where the wounded soldiers were to give them hope. He told funny stories to give them joy. He was nothing but a kind and generous man (Moreton). Lincoln didn’t harm anyone. He helped others more than he helped himself and that is not the description of a man who deserves to die. Some people believed Abraham Lincoln was attempting to remove or change the Constitution and wreck the cherished south but they were wrong for many reasons.
A large group of people believed killing Lincoln was a necessity to keeping slavery and the southern way of life (O’Reilly, 27). John Wilkes Booth thought it was his duty to kill the president. His hatred was so strong. In fact, he believed he was “the only man in America who can end the North’s oppression,” (O’Reilly, 26). People were wrong to think Lincoln would remove the Constitution because he did not have the power to do so. The Constitution authorized slavery so Lincoln left this alone and did not technically try to change that (Pruitt). Although, Lincoln did make the first steps to ending slavery, and that was one of the best things our country did. Slaves were treated as though their only life purpose was to help their owners. It was very “degrading.” The owners physically forced the slaves to work and if they did not, they were threated or beaten (Hamner). Slavery was, no doubt, horrible and Lincoln could see that and attempted to stop it. This was no reason to kill
him. Change scares a lot of people and that is why Lincoln was a threat. Booth did not want change; he was a proud member of his country and supported everything, including slavery. Booth thought ending slavery was a bad idea but if we killed everyone who disagreed with us, there would be a lot more deaths everyday. Also, Lincoln was not a threat to Booth or the country. He did not kill anyone. The only reason Booth killed Lincoln was because he was mislead and impulsive. In conclusion, there is no version of this story where it seems deserved to die.