unveiling the hidden facts behind Lincoln's assassination that you didn't know in 1865 the nation was deeply divided with tensions running high after the Civil War John wils Booth a famous actor plotted to kill Lincoln believing it would revive the Confederacy on April 14th Booth shot Lincoln at Ford's Theater changing the course of American History forever the immediate aftermath saw chaos as Booth fled and the nation mourned the loss of its leader follow us for more captivating historical insides