- As an avenger of the South: Booth believed that the assassination of Lincoln was a necessary act of revenge for the South's defeat in the Civil War. He saw himself as a martyr for the Confederate cause, and he hoped that his actions would inspire others to fight for Southern independence.
- As a defender of states' rights: Booth believed that the federal government was overstepping its bounds by interfering with the rights of individual states. He saw himself as a champion of states' rights, and he believed that his actions were justified in order to protect the South from federal tyranny.
- As a man of honor: Booth believed that he was acting honorably by assassinating Lincoln. He saw Lincoln as a tyrant, and he believed that it was his duty to kill him in order to save the country. Booth also believed that he was sacrificing his own life for the greater good, and he saw himself as a martyr for his cause.
Of course, Booth's actions were not heroic in the traditional sense. He killed an unarmed man in cold blood, and he did so for political reasons. However, Booth genuinely believed that he was doing the right thing, and he saw himself as a hero in his own mind.