I'm not sure exactly what I expected, but I was surprised by the main focus of the movie, which was the political maneuvering necessary to pass the thirteenth amendment to the constitution, to end slavery.
Of course, human interest stories, and personal relationships were brilliantly woven into the main story line. But the main story line was clearly about Lincoln's immense political struggle to pass that law.
Since it was about the struggle between two parties, on opposite sides of a political issue, it certainly felt very timely and relevant. I seem to remember hearing that the release of the movie was postponed until after the election, and now I can see why that would be the case.
On the way home I began to wonder who took over after Lincoln's assassination. Of course I did not remember. The answer is Andrew Johnson, who finished Lincoln's second term, but was not re-elected. When I looked it up in my book on the presidents, I was surprised to learn that on the same night as the assassination, that the Secretary of State Seward was also the victim of an assassination attempt. An assailant entered his home and attacked him with a knife. Both his wife and daughter witnessed the attack, and both died within months, at least partly from the trauma of that event. Seward himself recovered. There were many historical details that came to light in the movie, of which I was unfamiliar.
Growing up in the South I can observe that being the "defeated" has never really left the psyche of many southerners. Even today the rebel flag is displayed proudly as a sign of a proud "way of life."
To my way of thinking it is a symbol of slavery and that is scarcely a way of life to defend.
Yes, it is referred to as "the northern agression". Actually we don't feel it like some say they do. Maybe it's because most of our friends are transplants? But, we do have some born southerners as friends. Love YOU.
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