Explain why Lincoln’s assassination put the future of the nation in question. (4 points)
1. Leadership vacuum: Lincoln's assassination created a vacuum in leadership, leaving the nation without a strong and experienced leader to guide it through the challenging period of post-Civil War reconstruction.
2. Uncertainty and instability: The sudden and violent death of Lincoln shook the nation to its core, creating a sense of uncertainty and instability about the future direction of the country.
3. Potential for further violence: The assassination of Lincoln raised fears of further violence and unrest, as tensions were high between supporters of the Union and Confederate states.
4. Threat to unity and reconciliation: Lincoln was seen as a figure of unity and reconciliation, and his assassination threatened to derail the fragile process of rebuilding the nation and bringing together the divided North and South.