Who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln?

The individual who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln was John Wilkes Booth. Booth was a well-known actor and a fervent supporter of the Confederacy during the Civil War. He held strong anti-Union sentiments, particularly in response to the defeat of the South and the policies being implemented under Lincoln's administration. On April 14, 1865, Booth shot Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., and fled the scene, resulting in a manhunt that eventually led to his capture and death days later. This event marked a significant moment in American history, as Lincoln was the first sitting president to be assassinated, profoundly affecting the nation and the course of Reconstruction.

The other individuals listed were prominent figures but did not play any role in Lincoln's assassination. Samuel Tilden was a political figure known for his role in the disputed 1876 presidential election; Thaddeus Stevens was a leader of the Radical Republicans and an advocate for Reconstruction policies; Robert E. Lee was a Confederate general. Their contributions to American history are notable, but none were involved in the act of assassinating Lincoln.