Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, by James Swanson - Social Action Question #3

 #3 - How does the text make you think about the justice in the world?

            The book Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, by James Swanson is about how John Wilkes Booth assassinates Lincoln in order to avenge the Confederates who lost in the Civil War and attempts to flee. Vengeance is an act that many people take on in order to satisfy themselves. “Satisfaction” is a form of carrying out justice that appears many times in this book. After reading this book, I believe that justice is served when you are satisfied.

            To begin, as soon as the Union Army declared victory on the Civil War, John Wilkes Booth’s only desire was to eliminate Abraham Lincoln and avenge the South.  For instance, “John Wilkes Booth awoke depressed… The Confederacy was dead. His cause was lost and his dreams of glory over… he could not stand another day of Union victory celebrations” (9). Booth was extremely disgruntled with the news that Friday morning. Later Swanson states, “A star member of a celebrated theatrical family, John Wilkes Booth was willing to throw away fame, wealth, and a promising future for the cause of the Confederacy” (10). He did as much as he could in order to get to Lincoln. For example, in the beginning of the book, John Wilkes Booth scrutinizes every document and letter relating to Lincoln. Finally, when one of Booth’s letters said that Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, the hero of the United States, was attending a play at Ford’s Theater, he became triumphant. “He would not have to hunt Lincoln. The president [and the general who ended the war were] coming to him” (13).

            Furthermore, this type of justice that is being served is what John Wilkes Booth believes is justice; justice that is being served for the South. He was willing to do anything to kill Lincoln such as kill anyone that got in his way. In addition, Booth threatened his own henchmen for doubting his plan in order to carry out the assassination. “[George] Atzerodt had doubts about his assignment. He would not do it, he said. Booth then threatened Atzerodt, implying that he might as well kill [Andrew] Johnson, because if he didn’t, Booth would accuse him anyway and get him hanged” (27). John Wilkes Booth basically uses his henchmen to physically get to Lincoln, on the upper platform of Ford’s Theater, where Lincoln was shot. After Lincoln falls, John Wilkes Booth couldn’t hide his satisfaction, “Thus always to tyrants. The South has been avenged! … I have done it!” (43+45). John Wilkes Booth served the justice that was blocked towards the Southern states.

            On the other hand, the North faced a completely different goal after John Wilkes Booth committed murder; a crime of a level of very high unjust, especially on the president. They were willing to do almost anything in order to capture John Wilkes Booth in order to satisfy the people of the United States. The chase was called the “manhunt.” In this hunt, multiple units of agents went from state to state and almost went out of the country in order to find the group of conspirators who planned the assassination of Lincoln. After twelve days, the seven conspirators were found and captured for trial. In order to serve justice, Thomas P. “Boston” Corbett shot and killed John Wilkes Booth, while the other six members of the group were held in custody. According to Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, “The soldiers heard one shot. Instantly, Booth dropped…” Shooting Booth ensured the U.S. citizens’ satisfaction.

            In conclusion, it takes fulfillment or satisfaction for justice to be served. Justice is often seen as stopping an unjust act. However, in the real world, when you are satisfied with an act, it seems as though justice has been served. In Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, John Wilkes Booth served the justice that was blocked towards the Southern states. Thomas P. Corbett served the justice that was blocked for the North. I learned that in real life gratification is perhaps the most common form of justice being served.