History Film / FreeStateOfJones

* RealMenLoveJesus: Newt and Moses both appear to be devout Christians, invoking God at numerous points (not unexpected for the time and region).

* UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar: The film's starting point is the Battle of Corinth in 1862 when it was becoming clear the Confederacy's chances of victory were low. It extends into the post-war Reconstruction period as well.

* Tearjerker:
** The 4 men getting hung for trying to surrender is a rough scene. As most of them were just kids.

* UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar: The film's starting point is the Battle of Corinth in 1862 when it was becoming clear the Confederacy's chances of victory were low. It extends into the post-war Reconstruction period as well.
* TheKlan: The KKK is shown during the Reconstruction years, murdering blacks who try to vote or register others such as Moses. Unfortunately [[TheBadGuyWins they succeed]] in largely preventing them from voting.
* TheMedic: Newt serves as one while in the Confederate Army, but can't save his young nephew. This causes him to desert.

* WarIsHell: Newt firmly believes this after having seen fighting up close, carrying wounded soldiers off to surgery, in contrast with others, and feels that his nephew was killed for nothing.

* SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Newt comes to believe this after seeing how the slaves are treated (he doesn't own any himself, like many Southern farmers during that period) and his Aunt Sally helps slaves escape into the swamps. The former slaves naturally agree, with Moses proclaiming that "You cannot own a child of God", to Newt's approval.

* SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Newt comes to believe this after seeing how the slaves are treated (he doesn't own any himself) and his Aunt Sally helps slaves escape into the swamps. The former slaves naturally agree, with Moses proclaiming that "You cannot own a child of God", to Newt's approval.

''Free State of Jones'' is a 2016 film chronicling the little-known story of Newton Knight, a white farmer in Mississippi who led an armed revolt by disgruntled farmers and escaped slaves against the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Together, they declare that Jones County, Mississippi and the surrounding region is [[TitleDrop "the free state of Jones"]], seceding from the Confederacy.

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* UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar: The film's starting point, at the Battle of Corinth in 1863 when it was becoming clear the Confederacy's chances of victory were low. It extends into the post-war Reconstruction period as well.

* SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Newt comes to believe this after seeing how the slaves are treated (he doesn't own any himself). The former slaves naturally agree, with Moses proclaiming that "You cannot own a child of God", to Newt's assent.

* MixedAncestry: Newt and Rachel's son Jason have it. Rachel herself is mixed race too. It's also the issue at Davis Knight's trial as to whether his great-great grandmother was Rachel or Serena Knight. Assuming the former, he would be "colored" under Mississippi state law and thus forbidden to marry a white women. If the latter, he would be white and thus freed. The prosecutor {{lampshades}} how unusual this is, as generally it would be the father whose identity isn't clear. Eventually the Knight family Bible is uncovered, revealing that it was Rachel.

* GeneHunting: An example where it doesn't refer to the person's parents, but earlier ancestors. The issue at Davis Knight's trial has to do with whether his great-great grandmother was Rachel or Serena Knight. Assuming the former, he would be "colored" under Mississippi state law and thus forbidden to marry a white women. If the latter, he would be white and thus freed. The prosecutor {{lampshades}} how unusual this is, as generally it would be the father whose identity isn't clear. Eventually the Knight family Bible is uncovered, revealing that it was Rachel.

* MixedAncestry: Newt and Rachel's son Jason have it, as does their descendant Davis. Rachel herself is mixed race too.

* DownerEnding: Although the Free State of Jones manages to hold out to the end when the Confederates lose the civil war and slavery is abolished, former Confederates retake control of the South, murdering the former slaves who try to assert their rights, while suppressing the votes of them and white supporters like Knight.

* TheKlan: The KKK is shown during the Reconstruction years, murdering blacks who try to vote or register others such as Moses.

* KarmaHoudini: All of the Confederate officers and slave owners get off scot-free, having only to swear loyalty to the United States. Their former nemesis Lieutenant Barbour later becomes a judge, using this office to get former slaves into coerced "apprenticeships" that amount to slavery in all but name.

* KarmaHoudini: All of the Confederate officers and slave owners get off scot-free, having only to swear loyalty to the United States. Their former nemesis Lieutenant Barbour later becomes a judge, using this office to get former slaves into "apprenticeships" that amount to slavery in all but name.

''Free State of Jones'' is a 2016 film chronicling the little-known story of Newton Knight, a white farmer in Mississippi who led an armed revolt by disgruntled farmers and escaped slaves against the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Together, they declare Jones County, Mississippi and the surrounding region [[TitleDrop "the free state of Jones"]], seceding from the Confederacy.

* KarmaHoudini: All of the Confederate officers and slave owners get off scot-free, having only to swear loyalty to the United States.

* MixedAncestry: Newt and Rachel's son Jason, plus their descendant Davis. Rachel herself is mixed race too.

* TheKlan: They are shown during the Reconstruction years, murdering blacks who try to vote or register others such as Moses.
* TheMedic: