Abraham Lincoln was not popular in the southern states. As he planned to make his way to Washington, D.C. for his inauguration, it became clear that the southerners were not going to make his journey an easy one.
Officials became aware of a plot to kill Mr. Lincoln before he could take office. At the time, the Secret Service didn't exist, so Lincoln was left to his own devices to protect himself. He enlisted the services of the Pinkerton Agency to protect him, and no less than Alan Pinkerton himself pledged to keep him safe.
Through clever subterfuge, Pinkerton was able to safely get Abraham Lincoln to Washington. The southern states decided to implement their backup plan- secession. While Lincoln's life was under constant threat, he continued with his plan to put down the southern rebellion and eliminate slavery once and for all.
