Marcus Parks

See, by this point... By this point in the American Civil War, 1864, the Confederacy was on a near irreversible downward slide, and John Wilkes Booth had done absolutely nothing in service of defending his beloved institution of slavery, aside from talking a lot of shit.

See, by this point... By this point in the American Civil War, 1864, the Confederacy was on a near irreversible downward slide, and John Wilkes Booth had done absolutely nothing in service of defending his beloved institution of slavery, aside from talking a lot of shit.

See, by this point... By this point in the American Civil War, 1864, the Confederacy was on a near irreversible downward slide, and John Wilkes Booth had done absolutely nothing in service of defending his beloved institution of slavery, aside from talking a lot of shit.

From what it seems like to me, Booth had more or less convinced himself that he was simply waiting in the wings for his moment to step into history, as if his part in the war was simply another stage role.

From what it seems like to me, Booth had more or less convinced himself that he was simply waiting in the wings for his moment to step into history, as if his part in the war was simply another stage role.

From what it seems like to me, Booth had more or less convinced himself that he was simply waiting in the wings for his moment to step into history, as if his part in the war was simply another stage role.

John Wilkes Booth had been greatly inspired by the pre-war raid on Harper's Ferry led by the abolitionist John Brown, but only in the sense that John Brown had taken matters into his own hands and had fought and died for a cause.

John Wilkes Booth had been greatly inspired by the pre-war raid on Harper's Ferry led by the abolitionist John Brown, but only in the sense that John Brown had taken matters into his own hands and had fought and died for a cause.

John Wilkes Booth had been greatly inspired by the pre-war raid on Harper's Ferry led by the abolitionist John Brown, but only in the sense that John Brown had taken matters into his own hands and had fought and died for a cause.

Now if you'll remember, John Wilkes Booth had wanted to inspire people just as John Brown had, in the sense that Brown had gathered a small crew to fight against impossible odds. The difference though is that John Wilkes Booth wanted to inspire people to defend slavery, not abolish it. Super hard. Yeah. Well, I mean, not for half of the country.

Now if you'll remember, John Wilkes Booth had wanted to inspire people just as John Brown had, in the sense that Brown had gathered a small crew to fight against impossible odds. The difference though is that John Wilkes Booth wanted to inspire people to defend slavery, not abolish it. Super hard. Yeah. Well, I mean, not for half of the country.

Now if you'll remember, John Wilkes Booth had wanted to inspire people just as John Brown had, in the sense that Brown had gathered a small crew to fight against impossible odds. The difference though is that John Wilkes Booth wanted to inspire people to defend slavery, not abolish it. Super hard. Yeah. Well, I mean, not for half of the country.

Time, however, was running out for Booth to make his move. 1864 was an election year, so Lincoln was determined to show America that an end to the war was in sight.

Time, however, was running out for Booth to make his move. 1864 was an election year, so Lincoln was determined to show America that an end to the war was in sight.

Time, however, was running out for Booth to make his move. 1864 was an election year, so Lincoln was determined to show America that an end to the war was in sight.

General Ulysses S. Grant was getting more aggressive in his southern campaign by burning down cities, amongst many other brutal tactics, and a raid on the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, while unsuccessful, had damn near resulted in the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

General Ulysses S. Grant was getting more aggressive in his southern campaign by burning down cities, amongst many other brutal tactics, and a raid on the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, while unsuccessful, had damn near resulted in the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

General Ulysses S. Grant was getting more aggressive in his southern campaign by burning down cities, amongst many other brutal tactics, and a raid on the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, while unsuccessful, had damn near resulted in the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

So perhaps seeing that 1864 was do or die time, John Wilkes Booth began having serious discussions with other Confederates to formulate a solid plan for kidnapping Abraham Lincoln in order to trade him for Confederate POWs, thus shifting the momentum of the war.

So perhaps seeing that 1864 was do or die time, John Wilkes Booth began having serious discussions with other Confederates to formulate a solid plan for kidnapping Abraham Lincoln in order to trade him for Confederate POWs, thus shifting the momentum of the war.