Lincoln
Lincoln Worksheet Name _________________
In 1865, as the United States Civil War winds inexorably toward conclusion, U.S. president Abraham Lincoln endeavors to achieve passage of a landmark constitutional amendment which will forever ban slavery from the United States. However, his task is a race against time, for peace may come at any time, and if it comes before the amendment is passed, the returning southern states may stop it before it can become law. Lincoln must, by almost any means possible, obtain enough votes from a headstrong Congress before peace arrives and it is too late. Yet the president is torn, as an early peace would save thousands of lives. As the nation confronts its conscience over the freedom of its entire population, Lincoln faces his own crisis of conscience -- end slavery or end the war.
Objectives: At the conclusion of this movie, students will
1. Understand why Abraham Lincoln is considered one of America’s greatest leaders and Presidents.
2. Show the problems of trying to get things accomplished in Congress.
3. Explain how politicking and bipartisanship work.
Part 1 Pre-Movie
1. Define the following:
(4) Leadership – What in your opinion makes a good leader?
(2) Lobby - Lobbyist
(2) Partisan
(2) Politicking
(2) Contraband
(2) Belligerent
(5) 2. Do some research and explain what the Emancipation Proclamation was and why was it able to free only those slaves living in the Confederacy? Why might this freedom have been taken away after the war, had something else not been done?
(5) 3. Research the history of the 13th Amendment, and answer the following: what is the 13th Amendment, what is its purpose, and why was it so important for the United States (Lincoln) to pass it?
Part 2 Movie
1. Based on the movie Lincoln, what role did each of the following play? Look at attitude, dress, demeanor, actions, facial expressions, etc… What history can we learn from these characters?
(5) Abraham Lincoln
(3) Mary Lincoln
(3) Robert Lincoln
(4) William Seward – Secretary of State
(4) Edwin Stanton - Secretary of War
(4) Preston Blair - politician
(5) Thaddeus Stevens - Representative
(3) 2. Why was the problem of ending slavery during the Civil War so “slippery” as Lincoln described it? Were the obstacles that Lincoln is describing here mainly political, legal or social? Explain
(3) 3. The film shows the intensity of the House Debate that features a series of insults traded across the partisan aisle between Northern Democrats such as Fernando Wood from New York and Radical Republicans such as Thaddeus Stevens from Pennsylvania and Hiram Price from Iowa. What was your first reaction to this scene? How does this show the problems of party politics? Were we truly a “House Divided”? Explain.
(3) 4. Early in the film, Lincoln’s youngest son, Tad, is laying in front of the fire, he was on top of an important war strategy map– what does this say about Lincoln as a father? What does it say about the son? Explain.
(3) 5. Abraham Lincoln resorts to various methods in order to get the House of Representatives to pass the 13th Amendment. What are these methods? Do you believe that these tactics are necessary? Why or why not?
(3) 6. Thaddeus Stevens downplays his true political beliefs in order to gain passage of the 13th Amendment. Do you feel that this makes him more principled or less principled? Of standing one’s ground despite guaranteed defeat, or downplaying one’s beliefs in order to gain a small victory on the path to additional victories, which do you feel is more honorable? Explain.
(6) 7. List three different instances in the movie, that you believe, Lincoln showed great leadership. Explain why you believe so.
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Part 3 Post-Movie
(12) 1. Based on research, how accurate is the film? Some historians are critical of the film? Why? Give at least four examples good or bad.
(3) 1.
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(4) 2. Based upon what you have learned from the film, speculate the impact of Abraham Lincoln’s death had on American Government and its future Union.
(3) 3. Does the film enhance or hurt your perception of Lincoln’s Presidency? Explain
(4) 4. So if you would have been in Abraham Lincoln’s shoes, would you have tried to end the war or free the slaves? Explain.
(2) 5. What character in this film do you identify with most strongly, and why?
(2) 6. What did you like about the film? What displeased you?
Rate the film 1 to 10 (1 low 10 high) on the following;
_____ Historical Value (This helped me learn about American History)
_____ Entertainment (was enjoyable)
_____ Overall recommendation for class (a film all Americans should watch)