[297]

Foreign policy
Main articles: Presidency of Abraham Lincoln § Foreign policy, and Diplomacy of the American Civil War
Lincoln named his main political rival William H. Seward as Secretary of State, and left most diplomatic issues in his portfolio. However Lincoln did select some of the top diplomats as part of his patronage policy.[298]  He also closely watched the handling of the Trent Affair in late 1861 to make sure there was no escalation into a war with Britain.[299] Seward's main role was to keep Britain and France from supporting the Confederacy. He was successful after indicating to London and Paris that Washington would declare war on them if they supported Richmond.[300]

Assassination
Main article: Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Shown in the presidential booth of Ford's Theatre, from left to right, are assassin John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Clara Harris, and Henry Rathbone.
John Wilkes Booth was a well-known actor and a Confederate spy from Maryland; though he never joined the Confederate army, he had contacts with the Confederate secret service.