another look at Abraham Lincoln on PBS starting Tuesday Jan 8th

PBS is running a three part series starting Tuesday Jan 8th with parts two and three also Tuesdays Jan 15th and 22nd. the show titled "The Abolitionists" supposedly "fact checks" the history in the Steven Spielberg movie "Lincoln". looks interesting esp after recently seeing "Lincoln"

Cnn article on the show >>> https://www.cnn.com/2013/01/08/showbiz/slavery-pbs/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Episode 1 was about early Abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Angelina Grimke with an "introduction" to Frederick Douglass and  John Brown. interesting history BUT didn't think it was that well acted. 

I thought that Episode two was much more in interesting with Richard Brooks, who played Assistant District Attorney Paul Robinette in the Law & Order series, as Frederick Douglass

Douglass meets John Brown who advocates for black insurrection

the Mexican-American War expands slavery to the west

the price for admission of California to the union as a free state leads to the Fugitive Slave Law which is a major setback to the abolitionists and leads to their becoming more militant

the falling out between William Garrison and Douglass over "non-violence vs insurrection"

Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" becomes a best seller in 1852 and  fans the flames of abolition.

 but don't think this series is going to give both sides.

WHAT "both sides"? slavery was an immoral abomination which, even after it was ended 150 years ago, STILL poisons the politics of America with racism  

btw, the Union may have WON The Civil War BUT they LOST "reconstruction". there was another 100 years of "Jim Crow" after the war ended until the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Episode 3 the best of the bunch....

war between the Free and Slave forces in Kansas in the 1850's. John Brown joins the fight in Kansas

Dred Scott Decision in 1857 further inflames the abolishionist movement.

John Brown attacks Harper's Ferry in 1859. letters between Brown and Douglass lead to federal "conspiracy" charges against Douglass who flees to Canada. Brown's hanging makes him a martyr in the North.

the election of Lincoln in 1960 who is willing to make "compromises" on slavery with the South to preserve the Union. Fort Sumter starts The Civil War BUT Lincoln is STILL willing to let the South keep their slaves IF they will cease the war and re-join the Union. as the War drags on, the argument for fighting goes from "Save the Union" to "End Slavery". The Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 as much about "legalizing" blacks serving in the Union Army as their "freedom". 13th Amendment in 1865 finally ends slavery for ever in America.

I would say overall an EXCELLENT history series.