FAMOUS PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATIONS

Keegan FlintSocial Studies

High School 9-12

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Learning Objectives

In this lecture students will gain knowledge on presidential assassinations.

This will include the two successful assassination attempts carried out in US history.

Students will learn of other attempts to assassinate presidents that were unsuccessful.

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The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, known as “Honest Abe” was the 16th President of the United States.

He was President during the Civil war, and opposed the expansion of slavery.

President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, on April 14, 1865.

The assassination took place days after the civil war had come to an end.

The Assassination of John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States.

President Kennedy was in office during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which nearly resulted in the third world war between the US and Soviet Union.

John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, on November 22, 1963.

The ten month investigation sparked the possibility of a conspiracy, and the assassin, Oswald was gunned down before he could stand trial.

Assassination Attempts on U.S. Presidents

James A. Garfield, 20th President, was shot on July 2, 1881. He died 11 weeks later due to infections caused by the bullet wound.

William McKinley, 25th President, was shot in a music hall on September 6, 1901. He passed away 11 day later.

Both of the assassins were tried in court and sentenced to death.

Garfield’s killer was hung, and McKinley’s killer was severely beaten by police at the scene and was electrocuted nine days later.

Unsuccessful Assassination Attempts

There have been more than 20 attempts to kill Presidents of the United States.

This includes Presidents in office, before they were inaugurated, as well as after their term in office was up.

Andrew Jackson beat down his assassin with his cane after both of the would be killer’s pistols misfired.

Other presidents who were targeted include; Franklin D. and Theodore Roosevelt, Nixon, Reagan, George H. W. and George W. Bush, Clinton as well as our current President Obama.

Was Lee Harvey Oswald ever convicted of the assassination of

President John F. Kennedy?

No, he was shot before he stood trial.

No, he pled innocent and was let off.

Yes, and he was sentenced to the death

penalty.

Lee Harvey Oswald didn’t kill JFK.

Right Answer! Good Job!

Next

Wrong Answer

Try Again

How Many Presidents of the United States have been

successfully assassinated?

4

10

20

2

You’re Right! Great Job!

Finish!

Wrong Answer

Try Again

Sources Used

http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/November-22-1963-Death-of-the-President.aspx

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/civil/jb_civil_lincoln_1.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_assassination_attempts_and_plots