Second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln taking the oath of office for his second term.

The second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th president of the United States happened on March 4, 1865. It was the start of the second and final term of Abraham Lincoln as president and the only term of Andrew Johnson as vice president.

A public ceremony happened on the East Front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The event was the 20th presidential inauguration.

Lincoln did not finish his term in office because he died on April 15, 1865, after being shot by John Wilkes Booth. As a result, his vice president, Andrew Johnson, become the next president.

Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase administered the oath of office to Lincoln. This was the first inauguration to feature African Americans in the inaugural parade.

This inauguration was the first to have many photos of it taken. One picture taken at the event is widely believed to show John Wilkes Booth, the man who killed Lincoln.

Second Inauguration Of Abraham Lincoln Media

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  Abraham Lincoln second inaugural address

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  Andrew Johnson was still a topic of ridicule in the papers a month after the inauguration (Syracuse Daily Courier and Union, April 8, 1865, page 4)

Other websites

• More documents from the Library of Congress
• Text of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address