Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

1. To what extent was Lincoln "uncompromising"?  To what extent was Thaddeus Stevens (leader of the Radical Republicans) "uncompromising"?  What were they willing to compromise on?  What were they not willing to compromise on?  Abraham Lincoln was uncompromisable keeping the Union and Constitution in place and unscathed. Thaddeus Stevens was uncompromising to the right of race equality in the United States. He wanted to even go further and push the right to vote and the right for African American political leaders. They were both willing to compromise their idea of political rights and fight for equality of all men in the United States. 

2. To what extent did the movie provide evidence of Lincoln's perspective as depicted in the Lincoln letters? The movie provided evidence that he wanted to keep the Union in working order and abolish slavery. The movie showed how he later thought that ending slavery would inevitably keep the Union in tact. 

3. Why did Lincoln believe the 13th Amendment was essential?  Lincoln believed the 13th Amendment was essential, because without the 13th Amendment the Union would fall to the Confederacy and slavery would never end. 

4. How did the film complicate the narrative that the North was against slavery and/or for racial equality, while the South was for slavery and against racial equality? The film complicates how the North was against slavery and the South was for slavery. This was because, the film shows many more people with slaves in the North than any in the South. There are slaves or very low paid servants seen working in the houses (which were against slavery) these men and women were never labeled as a free man or slave but appeared to be slaves.

5. For what reasons did people seem to resist the ending of slavery?  Did the film depict this as a matter of concern for property rights, or something else?  Some resisted the ending of slavery, because their farm depended on slaves to keep it maintained. Without slavery they would have to pay workers to keep up with the plantations. Owners of slaves had depended on these men and women for daily care. Some feared how life would be for those who were freed. The film also showed how many people were worried what would happen when African-Americans had political power.