CHASINGLINCOLN’SKILLERbyJamesSwanson

GermantownAcademy8thgradeSummerReading‐2017

Weselectedthisbookforseveralreasons,perhapsmostclearlybecauseitfollowsLincoln’sassassinationfivedaysafterRobertE.LeesurrenderedhisConfederateArmytoUlyssesS.Grant,effectivelyendingtheAmericanCivilWar.Lincolnisdead.TheUSwillenteralongperiodofhealing.Somesuggestthatthishealingstillisn’tfinished,evenin2017.ButwhataboutJohnWilkesBooth?Whathappenedtotheactorwhosneakedintothepresident’sboxonthenightofApril14,1865,andputasinglebullet(hispistolheldonlyone)intothebackofLincoln’shead?ChasingLincoln’sKillerprovidesanswers,butitraisesquestionsaswell.Tohelpyoufollowthestory,andtoprepareyouforinclassdiscussions,youwillbeansweringtwosetsofquestions:

ComprehensionQuestions:Eachchapterwillhaveoneortwoquestionsforyoutoanswer.Usebulletpointstojotyourideasdown.Bespecificenoughsoyoucanfigureoutwhatyoumeantwhenyougobacktoreadyouranswersoverthisfall.

Thought/DiscussionQuestions:Afterreadingthebook,takedownbriefnotes(2‐5bulletpoints)sothatyouarepreparedtodiscussyouranswersinclass

Thisworkcanbetypedorhandwritten.Youwilldefinitelyneedit,soitshouldbeavailable/printedandreadyforthefirstdayofclasses.Wewantyoutohaveyourworkandwillchecktoseeifitisdone,butwewillnotcollectit.Enjoythebook!Welookforwardtoseeingyouinthefall.

Mr.Eichsteadt,Mr.Stephens,andMr.Templeton

Comprehension Questions

Please answer these questions as you read through the book. “From 1861 through 1865”

1. Why did Lincoln and the Confederacy fight? What were their beliefs?

Prologue 2. On page 2, there is an excerpt from a speech made by Lincoln. What does this quote tell you about Lincoln's feelings about what to do now that the war is ending?

Chapter 1 3. What events of April 1865 upset Booth? 4. Besides Lincoln, whom else did Booth and others plan to kill? 5. Why do you think Booth wrote a letter ahead of time confessing to the crime?

Chapter 2 6. What did Booth shout after shooting Lincoln? Why do you think he said that? 7. Why do you think no one in the crowd, orchestra, or play was able to stop Booth’s escape?

Chapter 3 8. Powell and Herold planned to kill Secretary of State Seward. Briefly (in a 6-8 sentence paragraph) summarize their plan and what actually happened.

Chapter 4

9. What did Atzerodt do regarding his intended victim, Vice President Johnson? 10. Where did Herold and Booth meet? Where were Atzerodt and Powell?

Chapter 5

11. How did Secretary of War Stanton handle the situation when he arrived at the Peterson house where Lincoln was? What did he fear? What things did he do? 12. Why did Booth and Herold ride to a specific farm? Why could they trust the inhabitant there?

Chapter 6

13. How did Dr. Mudd react to news of Lincoln’s assassination? What did he do? Why?

Chapter 7 14. Who was Thomas Jones and what role did he play in the escape? Explain.

Chapter 8

15. How was Powell apprehended?

Chapter 9 16. Why was Booth so concerned about the newspapers? What did they say and how did he feel about that? Why did he feel that way?

Chapter 10 17. What mistake did Herold and Booth make with their boat?

Chapter 11

18. Why were Herold and Booth so intent on going further south? 19. Why were the Garretts hospitable at first? Why did John Garrett become less welcoming? 20. How does the chase conclude?

Chapters 12-14 21. How are the different people who were a part of the plot and/or the escape dealt with or punished?

Epilogue 22. Even though he succeeded in killing Lincoln, how was Booth ultimately a failure?

Thought / Discussion Questions

As you read, or after you finish reading, take down brief notes to answer these questions. We will be addressing these in discussions at the beginning of the year. Two to five bullet points should be enough, depending on the question.

1. John Wilkes Booth was part of a famous family of actors. Some claim that he saw himself as a heroic figure, a person destined to accomplish something great in his life. What are the pros and cons of studying his story? In other words, consider whether a story like his (or others who accomplish similar things) should be studied as part of a normal history curriculum.

2. Think about the way Swanson wrote this book: a. Some may look at his writing and compare it to a news story, in that he basically “reports the action”? Explain how this could be true, using at least one specific example (with a page number). b. Why might some be skeptical of the way Swanson has put the story together? In other words, how might the story have been embellished or exaggerated for the sake of making it a compelling read. Give a specific example (with a page number). c. What could Swanson have done in order to make his book more interesting? Give an example of a scene (with a page number) or a character that you believe could have been improved upon and how.

3. Of the characters who work with or encounter Booth as he tries to escape, whom do you believe should have been punished for his/her actions and why? Who may have warranted less punishment (or none at all) and why?

4. Think about what happens to Booth and his conspirators at the end:

a. Are they all treated fairly? In what ways are they or are they not? b. Do you believe that the conclusion of the story helped to heal the torn-apart country? Why or why not? c. In general, does the fact that a serious criminal has been captured or killed help people to heal, or does it just make the world safe from that individual?

5. How do you feel about the book as a whole? Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not? (Be honest! You are not going to hurt our feelings!)