What were the key events leading up to Abraham Lincoln's assassination?

The key events leading up to Abraham Lincoln's assassination include:

1. American Civil War: The Civil War began in 1861, with the secession of several Southern states from the Union. Lincoln, as the President of the United States, played a crucial role in leading the Union forces against the Confederacy.

2. Emancipation Proclamation: In 1862, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all slaves in Confederate territory were to be set free. This proclamation shifted the focus of the war towards ending slavery and had a significant impact on the course of the conflict.

3. Union Victory: By 1865, the Union forces were gaining the upper hand in the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, effectively ending the war.

4. Lincoln's Second Inauguration: On March 4, 1865, Lincoln was inaugurated for his second term as President. In his speech, he emphasized the need for unity and healing in the nation after the war.

5. John Wilkes Booth's Plot: John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer and actor, developed a plan to kidnap Lincoln in order to force the Union to negotiate a peace settlement. However, as the war turned in favor of the Union, Booth's plan evolved into an assassination plot.

6. Ford's Theatre: On the evening of April 14, 1865, Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln attended a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Booth, along with his co-conspirators, planned to assassinate Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William H. Seward simultaneously.

7. Lincoln's Assassination: While watching the play, Booth entered the presidential box and shot Lincoln in the back of the head. Lincoln was mortally wounded and passed away the following morning, April 15, 1865.

These events leading up to Lincoln's assassination highlight the turbulent times of the Civil War and the deep divisions within the country, ultimately resulting in the tragic loss of one of America's most influential presidents.