Chasing Lincoln's Killer

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Between 1861 and 1865, the United States had a Civil War between the states in the North and the South. What was the major cause of division between the North and South? What was the outcome of the war, and how did the American population respond?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question invites students to consider the historical context of the text: the postbellum period in US history. While slavery was the main issue at the core of the disagreement, both Northern (i.e., Union) and Southern (i.e., Confederate) states differed in a multitude of ways, including the systems of slave-based economies versus manufacturing economies and the issue of states’ rights versus federal rights. While the Confederates surrendered in the spring of 1865, the same period that John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln, many Confederate sympathizers sought to not admit defeat; as a result, southern states passed racist laws that prolonged the suffering of formerly enslaved persons.

• National Geographic provides a plethora of information for students learning about the “Civil War.”
• History.com explores the true conclusion of the Civil War in “Why the Civil War Actually Ended 16 Months After Lee Surrendered.”

2. As the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was a divisive figure in American politics. What was his political stance on the more controversial issues of the late-19th century? Why did some people support him and others dislike him?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question invites students to further delve into a central issue of the text as it relates to the theme of Deeply Divided American Politics, “Objectivity,” And Primary Source Material: The role that President Lincoln played in the end of the Civil War by enfranchising formerly enslaved communities. As the pro-North Republican leader of the Union, President Lincoln was well-liked by his counterparts for his determination to preserve the Union and not accept the secession of Confederate states, while simultaneously advocating for the abolition of slavery and the enfranchisement of formerly enslaved men. Conversely, Confederate/pro-slavery sympathizers found his politics to be particularly problematic, resulting in several assassination and kidnapping plots from anti-Lincolnists, such as John Wilkes Booth. While President Lincoln is often viewed as anti-slavery from a moral standpoint, evidence shows that the issue of slavery during the Civil War was less about the immorality of the action itself and more about the economic and political repercussions of a fractured Union.

• History.com uses an analysis of President Lincoln’s “A House Divided” speech in order to discuss his influence on late-19th-century American politics.
• CNN questions the validity of President Lincoln’s anti-racist stance in, “Did Black Lives Matter to Abraham Lincoln? It’s Complicated.”

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Consider the phrase “celebrity culture.” What does it mean and how does it affect the way that people react to one another and to society? Do you believe that we have a type of “celebrity culture” in contemporary society? If so, how?

Teaching Suggestion: This Personal Connection Prompt invites students to consider the theme of American Exceptionalism, Sensationalism, and Celebrity Culture within the context of contemporary society. With the rise of technology and social media, “celebrity culture” is a popular form of expression based on personal fame and gain; however, Swanson’s text points to the pervasiveness of self-centered actions, which in the context of the US are situated in a culture of exceptionalism, sensationalism, and individualism. In particular, Swanson’s text indicates that a major part of Booth’s motivation for the assassination was the instant fame he would receive on a national scale. This Prompt segues directly to the Discussion/Analysis Prompt.