The Causes And Effects Of Abraham Lincoln's Assassination

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Lincoln’s Assassination
Have you ever wanted something really bad? Like maybe a new toy or a higher job position? Imagine getting that thing you wanted most after working so hard for it and then losing it right after. It must be the worst feeling ever. Now put yourself in Abraham Lincoln’s shoes. You’ve just been inaugurated as president and days later you unfortunately get assassinated. President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865 in Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. (Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination). Abraham Lincoln’s assassination was an untimely event that slowed down the process of reconstruction after the Civil War (Effect of Lincoln Death on Reconstruction). The assassination increased the north’s hate towards the south (The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln pg.51). With Lincoln dead, there was no one to control the Radical Republicans who wanted to punish the south (Effect of Lincoln Death on Reconstruction). When Lincoln died he was replaced by President Andrew Johnson who had a bad relationship with the Congressmen (Effect of Lincoln Death on Reconstruction).
As you can imagine the assassination of Lincoln greatly influenced the relationship between the north and the south. The assassination soured their relationship, increasing the north’s hate toward the south (The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln pg.51). Even before the north even knew who killed Lincoln, they blamed the south. The north mourned whereas the south was happy (History Engine). In the north, not only whites, but blacks too mourned for their fallen president (History Engine). In the south most were happy, but not all of them (History Engine). Some southerners joined with the north in their sadness and sorrow. The ones who mo...

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...ld pass, but Congress would eventually override his vetoes on most of the laws (Barney, William L.).
Lincoln’s assassination damaged the north’s and south’s relationship, increasing the north’s hate toward the south. His death gave the Radical Republicans more freedom to punish the south. And it put Andrew Johnson in charge who also wanted to punish the south and had a very bad relationship with the Congressmen. Without President Lincoln, the process of reconstruction took 12 years. If Lincoln were still alive during that time maybe many of the things that happened wouldn’t have. He could’ve controlled the Radicals, saved the relationships of the north and south, stopped much of the racism and racial groups like the KKK, and President Johnson wouldn’t have been in charge. In conclusion, Lincoln’s untimely death had a massive impact on slowing down reconstruction.

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