Lincoln's assassin was the 'Liam Hemsworth' of his day | ASSASSINS | ABC News In-Depth

Key Concepts:

• John Wilkes Booth: Famous actor and assassin of Abraham Lincoln.
• Abraham Lincoln: US President assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
• Civil War: Conflict during which Booth developed strong pro-South, anti-Lincoln sentiments.
• Edwin Booth: John Wilkes Booth's more famous older brother, a superstar actor.
• Abolition of Slavery: The ending of slavery, which Booth opposed.

John Wilkes Booth: The Celebrity Assassin

The video draws a parallel between a hypothetical scenario of Liam Hemsworth assassinating a US President and the historical assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. Booth was a well-known stage actor, described as handsome and 26 years old at the time of the assassination. His fame preceded his act of killing Lincoln, who was considered by many Americans to be the "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time).

Family Fame and Political Views

Booth came from a family of ten children, all of whom were famous actors. However, his older brother, Edwin Booth, was the family's biggest star, drawing a comparison to the relative fame of the Hemsworth brothers. While John Wilkes Booth was famous, he was less so than Edwin. Beyond his acting career, Booth held strong political beliefs. He was a staunch supporter of the South during the Civil War and vehemently opposed the abolition of slavery.

Escalating Anti-Lincoln Sentiment and the Decision to Assassinate

As the Civil War progressed, Booth's opposition to Lincoln intensified. He even attempted to kidnap the president at one point. The turning point for Booth was Lincoln's vow to grant former slaves the right to vote. This decision led Booth to believe that the only way to save the South was to assassinate the president.