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(#3) After A Manhunt, Lincoln's Assassin Was Shot In The Head By Union Soldiers
Almost immediately after Lincoln was assassinated, a manhunt began for his killer. Members of the 16th New York Cavalry were tasked with hunting John Wilkes Booth and they finally caught up with him on April 26, 1865. Booth hid out in a barn on a farm belonging to Richard Garrett in Bowling Green, Virginia. The soldiers set the barn on fire in order to draw Booth out and once he emerged, they shot him to death. According to the account of Lieutenant Edward Doherty, Booth was aiming a gun at them... so they shot him in the back of head. Fitting considering the crime.
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(#4) He Died On Easter Weekend And Churches Were Packed That Sunday
Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865 - Good Friday. Easter Sunday, usually a time of reflection and rejoicing became a day of mourning. Normally, Easter was one of the few days that even the most lenient Christians went to church, but that year, even more people showed up. Churches across the United States were filled past capacity, and additional seating had to be brought in from other places. The day became an unofficial national day of sorrow. Some ministers even went so far as to compare Lincoln to a second Jesus.
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(#5) Some In The South Rejoiced, Triggering The Wrath Of Northern Soldiers
As expected, some Americans in the South were thrilled to hear that Lincoln had been assassinated. Still reeling from their loss in the Civil War, they were even more upset their way of life had changed so drastically. When word broke that Lincoln was dead, some threw parties and practically danced in the street.
Of course, there were some northern sympathizers among them, including Union troops who still occupied the area. These people were genuinely upset at hearing of the President's passing. A few soldiers rounded up some of the gleeful Southerners and tarred and feathered them. Others were also beaten to death or shot in the streets. Most, however, were just rounded up and arrested for their uncouth rejoicing.
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(#13) Presidents' Day Became A Holiday Honoring All Former Presidents, But Especially Lincoln and George Washington
The holiday known as Presidents' Day was originally in celebration of George Washington's birthday. However, by 1971 it was officially renamed and changed to the third Monday in February, not just February 22nd, and the holiday began to honor Lincoln as well. The Uniform Holiday Act, which Richard Nixon signed into law in 1971, made the combined holiday official.
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(#10) Booth's Brother In Law Illegally Staged A Production Of The Play Lincoln Was Watching When Assassinated
Our American Cousin, a play written by Tom Taylor, was the production that Lincoln was watching when he was killed. One year after those tragic events, John Sleeper Clarke, brother-in-law to John Wilkes Booth, was caught illegally producing a version of the play at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City. During the time period, a licensing fee and permission from the playwright were required in order to get the rights to put on a play. Clarke did not pay the fee, nor get approval from Taylor. Given that Our American Cousin was now infamous thanks to the actions of Clarke's brother-in-law, one would think he'd have wanted to avoid any ties to the play.
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(#11) Johnson Tried To Prevent Former Slaves From Obtaining US Citizenship, But Was Vetoed
The Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution, also known as the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, were passed by the states after Lincoln's death. These amendments abolished slavery (13th), granted former slaves official citizenship (14th), and set up equal rights regardless of skin color (15th). All of these amendments were passed by both houses of Congress and enough states to make them officially part of the Constitution. Johnson vetoed the 14th before Congress overrode his veto and the Amendment became law.
The Reconstruction Acts were also set in motion by Congress and signed into law in 1867. This set of laws set up the process that allowed the southern states to once again become part of the United States.
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The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, led the American Civil War and promulgated the "Proclamation on the Emancipation of Black Slaves," known as the "Great Emancipator." However, just as the victory came, on the evening of April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated at the Ford Theater in Washington. Conspiracy theories believe that this assassination was not simple, but that it was about throwing the American government into chaos.
Lincoln's election has long posed a serious threat to the interests of southern planters, who launched a rebellion before Lincoln took office. The random tool described 13 things that happened right after Lincoln's Assassination, there are many unsolved doubts.
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