Lincoln Movie

Well Baby Birds...Lincoln has arrived in theaters...I saw it the other night and only cried three times during the film, because of its powerful message.  The movie is based on a book written by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  "Team of Rivals", which won the Pulitzer Prize the year it was released, is one of the best books aboutLincoln.  The movie focus on the last six months of Lincoln's presidency.  Starting with Lincoln's interviews with Union soldiers about his infamous Gettysburg Address, the main focus then shifts to Lincoln and his cabinet's fervent efforts to pass the XIII Amendment.  The amendment, proposed by Lincoln, was not popular, nor widely accepted by his cabinet, and the film does an excellent job of showing how the XIII Amendment made it to the Constitution.  The film spends a great deal on the interactions between Abraham Lincoln and his Secretary of State, William Seward. 

Below are some characters to pay attention to:
-Thaddeus Stevens - Strong abolitionist from Pennsylvania who fought to end slavery
-Robert Todd Lincoln - Mary and Abraham's son who yearns to join the war
-Mary Todd Lincoln - Abraham's wife, who seems and is often written about being mentally unstable
-Edwin Stanton - Lincoln's Secretary of War who is in charge of the military
-Alexander Stevens - The Vice President of the Confederacy (from Georgia!)
-W.N. Bilbo - Hired by Seward to convince Congressmen to vote for the XIII Amendment
-Preston Blair - Politician and journalist who was a strong abolitionist friend of Lincoln's

 I am offering an extra credit opportunity to those who are able to see it.  The summary you type up will replace your lowest quiz grade.  Please be thougthful in your responses and take serious consideration into your answers.  I plan on seeing the movie at least three or four times in theaters, and will do the best I can to answer any questions you have about the film.  Below is your assignment...

Link to Offical Lincoln Movie website

 

Write up a one paragraph summary that answers/includes at least two of the following:
-What was something that surprised you about the film?
-What scene from the film stood out the most to you and why?
-What was something you found particularly interesting?
-Why do you think these Congressmen (the people who were voting on the Amendment) struggled so much in trying to pass the Amendment?
-What else did you enjoy/learn from the film?