On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln attended a performance of 'Our American Cousin' at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Accompanied by his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, and two guests, Lincoln settled into the presidential box overlooking the stage. During the play, John Wilkes Booth, an actor with a rising career and a known Confederate sympathizer, entered the box around 10:15 PM. Taking advantage of the crowded atmosphere, Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head at close range. The gunfire was drowned out by the audience's laughter and applause. After shooting Lincoln, Booth leapt from the box onto the stage and escaped through a back exit, proclaiming, 'Sic semper tyrannis'—a phrase that translates to 'Thus always to tyrants.' Lincoln was carried to the nearby Petersen House, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.The assassination of Lincoln came just days after the Union victory in the Civil War, leading to a tumultuous reaction across the nation. People were devastated, and the news reverberated throughout the country. The attempt on the President's life was part of a larger conspiracy led by Booth, who aimed to revive the Confederate cause by eliminating key government leaders. He believed that killing Lincoln, along with other prominent officials, would create chaos in the Union. In the ensuing days, a massive manhunt for Booth and his conspirators ensued, marking a significant turn in American history as the nation grappled with grief and uncertainty under a new leadership in Vice President Andrew Johnson. Lincoln's assassination not only deeply affected the nation but also ushered in a challenging period of Reconstruction.