I was thinking recently on how I’m vaguely aware of some of the famous assassinations in Europe, but for a lot of them I only recall the vague details, like I had to google to remind myself which of the Stuarts (Charles I) was captured and executed, or what decade Swedish PM Olof Palme was killed in, or which Italian king it was that was killed by an anarchist. Just bits of stuff I recall from school years ago or because I like history and am a trivia buff.
It got me to wondering how aware Europeans are of the USA’s four presidential assassinations, whether it gets mentioned in school or just as part of the pop culture zeitgeist. Like do most Europeans know JFK was assassinated just because of the pop culture references and conspiracy theories? Do most know Lincoln was assassinated in a theater by an actor as the American Civil War was ending?
I’d imagine most Americans know those two from both school and pop culture, but I think mostly just history/trivia buffs know the other two. In Europe, would it be only the most hardcore of history fans who know President Garfield was assassinated in 1881 by a deranged guy angry he hadn’t been gifted a diplomatic position, and President McKinley was assassinated in 1901 by an anarchist inspired by “down with the state” assassinations in Europe?
Just kind of curious how much awareness of those particular aspects of US history there is in Europe.
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Common knowledge yes, the details are easy to remember since they were iconic and major events, but we didn’t study them. Regarding the 2 other presidents I didn’t know and I’m quite the history buff myself. In my history classes the focus was more on society and major transformations (wars, revolutions) than specific events though.
It’s absolutely common knowledge, I mean JFK’s assassination was live on TV, most people have seen pictures of Jackie in that pink outfit covered in blood. Lincoln is also very much common knowledge he’s is a major part of the civil war.
I mean in general terms USA doesn’t have that much history it’s relatively easy for us to cover that main points in a week or two at school. The other two didn’t trigger any large effects so aren’t considered important. Generally assassinations/executed leaders are only ever talked about in relation to wider events like Franz Ferdinand and WW1 or talking about Marie Antoinette as an example of French royalty out of touchness, otherwise we would never get anywhere as so many kings were killed that way.
Common knowledge but the reasons are not clear. For example my gran was sure that Kennedy was assassinated because “he liked black people”.
Most people will know about Kennedy because it either happened in their lifetime or from references in modern culture.
Lincoln – depends on how good your history education is. In Austria, you don’t have to go to high school but you can learn a trade instead. Those people might not know about it because it might not be covered in middle school history.
The other two – nobody knows them.
Personally, I know all four but I am probably what you’d call a major trivia buff and I’m particularly interested in US history. I watch every documentary about US history that I can get a hold of. 😉
Most people will probably know about the JFK assassination, but not much detail. I’m not even sure if we learned about it in school.
Lincoln on the other hand… I am not sure. I am pretty sure I know all the information about him from American movies.
I feel like the average citizen here knows tangentially about Kennedy’s assassination, but most wouldn’t remember/care about the details that much. Most will be aware there are conspiracy theories surrounding the event, though.
With Lincoln it’d be hit or miss. Some will know who he was and what happened to him, others will probably only be aware that he existed, if at all. Personal interest and exposure to american media are the main driving force for people to know about US history here, as US history is only briefly mentioned in our history curricula.
Kennedy is definitely well-known. Like someone else said it was on TV at the time and major world news within the conscious lifetime of a significant part of the population. Lincoln would be a bit less well-known but probably still a significant part of the population will know that he was assassinated but maybe not so much the details.
Few people know about the other two.
JFK and Lincoln of course. If nothing else because it is constantly referenced in American media. McKinley and Garfield on the other hand? Not a chance.
I believe more people knows about the assassinations of Lincoln and Kennedy than they know about the assassination of king Umberto I.
Depending on the person the knowledge of the details might vary, but it generally stays at the “they were assassinated”.
I would say the JFK assassination is common knowledge, yes.
Lincoln, I’m not so sure. I think most people know there was a president a long time ago called Lincoln, but not everyone would know what he did exactly, and even fewer people will know the fact that he was assassinated.
The other two assassinations you listed are definitely not common knowledge at all! The average Spanish person wouldn’t even recognize the names.
Come on: ask any American what leaders of Europe have been assassinated and you will hear a loud, roaring … silence.
I would say yes. Maybe Lincoln is slightly less known or studied, but JFK and what happened is commonly known. Maybe because of all the gossips between him and Marilyn Monroe, or because of her wife, or maybe because of all the tragedies and accidents in his family, there is always something that sooner or later pops up in front of us in a book or in a magazine or even a tv documentary.
No not really, JFK yes, but Lincoln is not a common knowledge.
JFK’s assassination is definitely common knowledge. Older people will remember learning of it as it happened, and the whole event has been amplified by pop culture, conspiracy theories, etc. There are so many reminders that you’re not going to forget JFK’s assassination.
For Lincoln, I would expect most people to know that he was assassinated but be vague on the details. Lincoln is by far the most known part of the Civil War (people will usually not know any battles, possibly not even people like Grant and Lee, but they will known Lincoln) and it’s known that he was shot after it, but most probably won’t remember details like the assassin being an actor at the theater where it took place. But the general fact of Lincoln being shot is also references often in pop culture.
Presidents McKinley and Garfield are, I’m sure, entirely unknown to the vast majority. People won’t have heard of them at all, assassination or not. I only know them because I’m a bit of a US political history nerd. Garfield just didn’t do anything notable enough to be known in Europe 140 years later. McKinley is also quite irrelevant from a European perspective, though I suspect Spanish people would know about him because of the Spanish-American war and Spain losing multiple colonies.
In Greece we have one more reason to know about Kennedy, because Jackie married Onassis afterwards. But I think most are also aware of Lincoln as the president that freed the slaves and was killed for it.
jkf and lincoln is common knowledge. But the other two maybe the UK knows, as well for enthusiasts.
There were also the two assassination attempts in the 70s-80s(?)
Lincoln and Kennedy would be absolutely common knowledge and I would be shocked if anyone above the age of primary school (13) didn’t know that they were assassinated and even some small details, like in his car, in the theatre etc
I’m quite good on history and wouldn’t actually know details of the other two.
James Garfield and William McKinley are only known to those that study history, I would say.
Kennedy by everyone.
Lincoln by a lot of people (but no everyone).
The others, I don’t think it is common knowledge.
Kennedy assassination is a really common knowledge. Lincoln one is less common but still known.
I have to say that we are more aware of these assassinations than the ones of other european countries (except assassination of François-Ferdinand and maybe some else)
(France)
JFK’s death is probably one of the first events (excluding wars) that everyone on the planet could have heard about when it happened. It’s put JFK’s legacy on such a pedestal that we even have streets named after Kennedy.
Most Germans know that JFK had been murdered but only a few will come up with Lincoln. Though he’s been known by name in general. The others no one knows. Not even trivia buffs. Our trivial pursuit questions are different than yours.
Yes it’s in our history books. I know Lincoln was murdered in a theater right after the civil war. No idea who is the third one
Common knowledge.
JFKs assassination was a bit of a national tragedy here too
Are you serious? How stupid do you think Europeans are?
Not so much
Well, i knew them (more or less) cause sometimes i spend my night reading wikipedia
I say Lincoln being murdered is a lot less common knowledge than Kennedy.
Knowing about the guy is common knowledge.
Why he’s well known or that he was murdered a lot less so I think.