In his final public speech, President Abraham Lincoln proposed limited Black suffrage—specifically for educated African Americans and Black Union veterans. Speaking from a White House balcony, Lincoln acknowledged the contributions of Black soldiers and advocated for their right to vote. His comments marked a historic shift toward racial inclusion in American democracy. Notably, John Wilkes Booth, present in the crowd, reportedly vowed, “That means n***** citizenship. Now, by God, I’ll put him through,” just days before assassinating Lincoln.
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