Booth's Nature

Booth was a famous actor and part of a theatrical family. He was wealthy and was accepted as an important member of society. He was handsome and in demand. He was vain and self-centered with a tendency toward drama. He loved Southern manners and was often a supporter of lost causes. All these things make Booth a likely candidate to kill Lincoln.

Booth wanted to support the Confederacy and that desire didn't end when the Union captured the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, making it clear that the North was going to win the Civil War. Booth felt that assassinating Lincoln, Johnson, and Seward would cripple the Union and give the Confederate soldiers the desire to continue the fight. He had planned to kidnap Lincoln months earlier with the same goal in mind. Even though that plan failed, Booth remained determined to do something to...