Murder, the heinous act of killing another person with malice, can leave the victim’s family and friends devastated. When the victim is famous, the impact registers more broadly.

That’s why the murder of a well-known, public figure has a special term — assassination. The sudden, unexpected killing of a political leader, for example, can trigger certain events leading to wide reaching changes in policy and laws — desired or not.

President John F. Kennedy’s assassination not only traumatized the nation, but also sent shockwaves around the world. Many viewed his death as an end of an era. Some felt the assassination closed the curtain forever on the innocence of America in the early 1960s.

Because this year marks the 50th anniversary of two of the most traumatizing assassinations in U.S. history — the slayings of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy — 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the most famous assassinations in American history.

Click here to see the most famous assassinations in American history.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.