United States History from 1810 to 1877

1. You are a filmmaker or playwright who majored in History in college, and you want to bring your two great loves—history and TV/film/theater—together in your first independent project. However, you need funding to get your project off the ground. You propose a TV series, film, or musical/play about a moment in U.S. history between 1810 and 1877.
2. Write this 2,000 word essay in the form of a proposal that describes this series/film/play in a manner that will make a funding agency take notice.
3. Your description should tell a story and make a historical argument about why it is important. It should be specific about the larger historical context and the significance of your story. You will impress these folks even more by giving examples of the sources (primary and secondary) that will inform your work.