1865 - Inauguration & Assassination

Resources for Teachers

• Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Web Guide - Primary Documents in American History 
• Promises to Keep Part of the Learning Page Feature "Inaugurations" and discusses the differences between the first and second inaugural addresses of President Lincoln.   
• Presidential Inaugurations: Words and Images Abraham Lincoln's Second Inauguration, March 4, 1865 and a letter written by a gentleman who encountered John WIlkes Booth on Lincoln's inauguration day.  
• President Lincoln's Reelection:  A U.S. History activity from the Collection Connection for Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.   
• Lincoln's Second Inauguration Documents and images within the American Treasures of the Library of Congress, I Do Solemnly Swear Exhibition.  
• The Second Inaugural Address (1865) Restoring the American Union. This lesson by Edsitement will examine Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address to determine how he sought to reunite a country divided by the Civil War.  
• Assasination of President Abraham Lincoln Introduction: A special presentation within the Abraham Lincoln Papers.  
• Assasination of President Abraham Lincoln: Timeline: A special presentation within the Abraham Lincoln Papers.  
• Assasination of President Abraham Lincoln Gallery: A special presentation within the Abraham Lincoln Papers.  
• Lincoln Assassination U.S. History activities from the Collection Connection for Washington During the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. 
• Oh Captain, My Captain: Lyrical Legacy 
• The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln Selected Images from the Collections of the Library of Congress.  
• Artifacts of Assassination: American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.
• Account of Lincoln's Assassination: American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.  
• Oh Captain, My Captain: American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.  
• Now He Belongs to the Ages: American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.  
• $100,000 Reward Poster: American Treasures of the Library of Congress Memory Exhibition.
• Whitman's Elegy for Lincoln: Webcast  
• Chase for Lincoln's Killer: Webcast  
• What Events Led to Lincoln's Assassination? This lesson plan submitted to History Now uses primary sources from the Library of Congress to help students identify what events led to President Lincoln's death.   

Resources for Students

• I Spy: Lincoln Inauguration Feature  
• Honest Abe is that you? Wise Guide  
• Today in History, April 14, 1865: Assassination of President Lincoln  
• Today in History, February 9: Oh Captain, My Captain  
• April 2003, What's in your Pocket? Wise Guide  
• The Assassination of President Lincoln, April 14, 1865: America's Story: Jump Back in Time   
• What's in your Pocket? America's Story: Meet Amazing People.  

Library of Congress Primary Sources

• Crowd at Lincoln's Second Inauguration: American Memory 
• Lincoln's (second) Inauguration,1864: Prints and Photographs 
• Washington, District of Columbia. Crowd at President Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration: Prints and Photographs 
• Washington, District of Columbia. Crowd at President Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration (second image): Prints and Photographs 
• Washington, District of Columbia. Crowd at President Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration (third image): Prints and Photographs 
• Letter from Abraham Lincoln to his Cabinet Members, August 23, 1864: American Memory  
• Inaugural Address March 4, 1865 in Lincoln's Hand: American Memory 
• An Inaugural Poem, March 4, 1865: American Memory 
• Lincoln's second inaugural: American Memory 
• Abraham Lincoln's Last Reception: American Memory 
• Lincoln taking the oath at his second inauguration, March 4, 1865: American Memory  
• Letter from Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase to Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1865: American Memory 
• Inauguration Ball to Mr. and Mrs. Lazarus Noble, Saturday, March 04, 1865: American Memory  
• Washington D.C. 1865, David E. Herold, one of the Lincoln assassination conspirators: Prints and Photographs 
• Washington, District of Columbia. Execution of the conspirators: View of the scaffold: Prints and Photographs 
• Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, Samuel Arnold, a conspirator (seated): Prints and Photographs 
• Washington D.C., 1865-Michael O'Laughlen, one of the Lincoln assassination conspirators: Prints and Photographs 
• President Abraham Lincoln's hearse, Springfield S.M. Fassett, photographer, Chicago: Prints and Photographs 
• Home of Mr. Petersen, opposite Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C., where the President died; house of Wm. H. Seward, Washington, D.C.: Prints and Photographs 
• William A. Petersen house, 516 Tenth Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, D.C. American Memory  
• Coffin containing the remains of President Lincoln; small doors leading to the President's box, Ford's Theatre..., Murder of President Lincoln; Mr. Lincoln carried from the theatre to Petersen's house, opposite; Booth's stable..; Rear of Ford's Theatre.. showing door by which Booth made his escape: Prints and Photographs
• Ford's Theatre, 511 Tenth Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia D.C. Prints and Photographs   
• Ford's Theatre, Washington D.C. Prints and Photographs
• Assassination of President Lincoln: at Ford's Theatre, Washington D.C., April 14, 1865: American Memory
• Eugenie to Mary Todd Lincoln, April 28, 1865 (Condolences in French): American Memory 
• Louis Philippe to Mary Todd Lincoln, Friday, May 15, 1865 (Condolences): American Memory 
• John Bigelow to Mary Todd Lincoln, Friday, December 7, 1866 (Sends gold medal from French republicans): American Memory 
• The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, volume 3, January 1, 1864-May 30, 1865, April 30, 1865: American Memory 
• Queen Victoria to Mary Todd Lincoln, Saturday, April 29, 1865 (Condolences): American Memory  
• The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, Volume 3, January 1, 1864-May 30, 1865, May 20, 1865: American Memory 
• The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, Volume 3, January 1, 1864-May30, 1865, April 14, 1865: American Memory 
• Telegram extra. Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. J. Wilkie Booth the assassin. Secy Seward and his son Frederick wounded ... War department, 1.30 A. M. April 15th, 1865. American Memory 

Other Resources

• Yale University Avalon Project   
• National Center for Public Policy Research  
• University of Missouri-Kansas City  
• Surrat House Museum