Lincoln Was A 'Threat To Democracy'

John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln 160 years ago at Ford's Theater, but what motivated him? Booth was a famous actor who had plenty of fame and acclaim, so it wasn't a desire for either of those things. Instead, he was motivated by a desire to avenge the Confederacy's defeat and saw Lincoln as a threat to democracy. After shooting Lincoln, Booth shouted "Sic Semper Tyrannis!" or "Thus always to tyrants." Similarly, in recent times, two would-be assassins attempted to kill Donald Trump, with one of them, Ryan Routh, being charged in Florida. A recent study found that 55% of self-described leftists think Trump's assassination would be justifiable. Booth wrote that he was motivated by a desire to punish Lincoln, whom he saw as a tyrant, and believed he was doing the right thing. However, Lincoln was actually working towards a gentle reconciliation between the North and South, and Booth's actions prevented that from happening. If Booth had worked with Lincoln instead of killing him, it could have led to a better outcome for the country. The lesson from Booth's actions is that seeking cooperation rather than destruction is a better path forward.