Lincoln Film Study Guide Questions

What is the purpose of the scene consisting of Lincoln speaking with the black and white Soldiers?

The purpose of the scene was to show that even though they are different races they respect him and that he sees them equally.

Symbolically, what does Lincoln's dream represent to both Lincoln himself and to his wife?

It represents him trying to get the 13th amendment passed

What is the unspoken connection that Lincoln makes between his son and the photographs?

The photographs were if black boys of similar age. He is making the connection that regardless of skin color, the boys are more similar than different

Who is Seward, the man Lincoln is speaking with in his carriage and in his office? What role does he seem to play?

Seward is the Secretary of State and he is advising Lincoln .

What are some of the obstacles that Lincoln faced in passing the 13th Amendment

An obstacle Lincoln faced was that Lincoln's Republican Party had a slim majority in the House and not all of them were abolitionist

Which port do some members of the Cabinet support bombarding? Why?

Some members support Wilmington because it is the last port the Confederate have so if it falls, they feel they can then get to Richmond

Why are some Cabinet members upset with Lincoln?

They are upset because he is again trying to pass the 13th amendment. They feel the Emancipation Proclamation was enough

Why does Lincoln want so badly or pass the 13th amendment?

The Emancipation Proclamation might be deemed illegal one day and the freed slaves would be returned the bondage. If the Amendment is in place, the slaves would be forever legally free

What does Lincoln mean when he says, "We're whalers"?

It's a metaphor, the amendment is like a whale they've been hunting, and it is a dangerous animal, but they nearly have it

Who are the radicals?

The radicals are strong abolitionists in the Republican Party

Why do the Radicals distrust Lincoln ?

They think he doesn't really want to pass the amendment, and that he is just using the threat of it to get the rebels to surrender. If the war ends too fast, then the newly rejoined southern states would never pass the amendment. The Radicals want to wait until

after the next election to pass it easily, and then end the war.

Which party was trying to make the case that Lincoln was a dictator and was opposed to the 13th Amendment

Democratic Party

Who returns home, much to the delight of Mary Lincoln and Tad, and where has he been?

Robert, her son has been at school in Boston

What does Mr. Blair plead with Lincoln to do?

Talk with a delegation from the South and make peace before the war bloodshed restarts in the spring

What does Secretary Seward and his hired lobbyists seek to do?

Find House Representatives who might be swayed to support the 13th Amendment. Specifically they need Democrats to join

the Republicans in support

What type of democrat do they think they can influence and how will they sway them?

Lame ducks ones who won't be re-elected and whom they can offer federal jobs

What does Sec. Seward get upset with Lincoln over? Why would he be especially upset?

The fact Lincoln sent Blair to try and broker a peace deal without letting him know. Seward is the Secretary of the State and this falls under his area of responsibility

What does Robert want?

To enlist in the army

What is Mary grieving over ?

The death of their son, Willie, who died three years earlier.

Why has Mary Lincoln been investigated in the past?

For the amount of money, she has been spending in the White House

What does Lincoln want Mr. Stevens and the Radicals to do in the debate? Why?

Tone down their demands for full black equality which might scare off the conservative side of the Republican Party

Who is Stanton and what does he want to happen right away ?

Stanton is the Secretary of Defense. He wants Fort Fisher overcome and Wilmington captured

What news comes over the telegraph

Fort fisher has been captured but Wilmington hasn't surrendered. Many lives were lost

What strategy do the Democrats adopt in regards to Stevens

They want him to lose his temper in front of everyone and reveal his full plans for black equality, which would increase opposition to the 13th amendment

What fears does the Representative from Kentucky raise about the 13th amendment

Fears of what 4 million freed blacks might do, and would the Amendment lead to them getting the right to vote? If that happens, might then women get the right to vote?

What is causing difficulty for Seward's men in holding onto votes for the Amendment

Rumors that a delegation from the South is seeking an end to the war. If the war ends soon, they don't see the need for the amendment

What does General Grant want Lincoln to do in regards to the Southern offer?

Meet with the delegation and end the war.

What is Lincoln up in the middle of the night doing?

Pardoning soldiers that were to be hung for cowardice or desertion, including a sixteen-year-old.

What message does Lincoln send to Grant at first?

To send the delegation to washington

What does Lincoln's knowledge of Euclid convey?

That the concept of equality is 2000 years old at least. That it is fairness and justice

How does Lincoln change the message to Grant? Why?

He is to being them partway to Washington, but then wait for further word. He is realizing that if he ends the war now, the amendment may never oass

What is Stevens urged to do before his speech?

Not push for racial equality, just legal equality

What does Stevens do in his speech?

He tries to hold his temper and he maintains that he is seeking legal equality only

Why does Steven try and hold his temper in his speech?

He desperately wants the amendment to pass, no matter what

Where do Lincoln and Robert go? Why?

To an army hospital. Robert feels it is because Lincoln wants to scare him from joining the army

Why is Robert so adamant about serving in the army

He will be ashamed if he doesbt

What compromise does Lincoln try to make with his wife over Robert's enlistment

He will make sure that Robert serves away from the front lines so that he won't get hurt

What still remains as a point of conflict between Lincoln and Mary

The death of their son, Tad. She can't get past it years later, and she's continually afraid she'll lose another son.

What question is raised between Lincoln and his black servant?

What will happen to the black race after the amendment passes

What does "bipartisan" mean

2 opposing political parties finding common ground and working together

Why does Lincoln visit Seward's men

To hear why they are having difficulty securing the votes and to offer advice on how to proceed

What solution does he propose for securing Representative Coffroth's vote, who is a democrat

They will pressure the democratic representative that will lose his seat in a disputed election if the House of Representatives is allowed to choose who won. The Republicans have control of the House

Coffroth offers to switch to the Republican Party and vote for the amendment, but Stevens will not let him, why?

He must vote for the amendment as a democrat because Stevens wants to show that the amendment has bipartisan support

Why is Yeaman reluctant to change his vote and support the amendment?

He hates slavers, but is worried what could happen if blacks are ever given the right to vote.

Why does Mr Hutton hate black people?

He hates black people because his brother has died in the war and he blames the slaves

What does Lincoln insist must happen now?

He insist that slavery must be ended by the 13th amendment

How many more votes does Lincoln need?

Lincoln needs 2 more votes

Why's does Pendleton from Ohio say in his remarks before the vote to try and get a postponement

That there is an offer to end the war from the South.

What must Lincoln tell the House? What is the response he gives?

He must tell the House whether or not there is a delegation from the South in Washington. He denies knowing that there are

peace commissioners in the city or that there are likely to be any.

After all of the votes what is the final result?

56 against and 119 votes for. It passes by two votes.

What does Stevens do with the bill?

He takes it and shows it to his black servant, who is also his lover. He asks her to read it to him in bed.

What Lincoln sees the delegation, what do they insist upon?

Being readmitted to the Union in time to vote against the amendment is ratification

What does Lincoln insist?

That the amendment will still be ratified and that the sacrifices made have been worthwhile.

After Lee surrenders, what does Lincoln tell grant to do?

Let the Confederate soldiers go home. No punishment.

How can the toil the war is taking on Lincoln be seen?

On his face. He looks much older and more tired.

What foreshadowing is evident as Lincoln walks down the hall?

His image grows darker as he goes and the servant looks concerned or even worried

Where was Lincoln assassinated?

Ford's Theater

What speech is Lincoln giving at the end of the film?

His second inaugural address