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The Birth of a Nation Visions of the South Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation.

Quote #7

INTERTITLE: The South under Lincoln's fostering hand goes to work to rebuild itself.

The early days of the Reconstruction are depicted as being a grand old time. Thanks to Lincoln's conciliatory approach, the South is allowed to rebuild on its own terms.

Quote #8

[Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth while at the theater.]

BOOTH: Sic semper tyrannis!

"Sic semper tyrannis" is a Latin phrase that many "and thus always to tyrants," by the way. This represents a big turning point for the South, as the North will now take a more active role in the Reconstruction.

Quote #9

LYNCH: This sidewalk belongs to us as much as it does to you, "Colonel" Cameron.

This is the big bad change that the North is bringing to the South: Black people are being shown a modicum of equality with white people. Yeah...it's really something.