Poster for the movie The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation

1915 • 195 minutes
DramaHistoryWar

Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine. When Confederate colonel Ben Cameron is captured in battle, nurse Elsie Stoneman petitions for his pardon. In Reconstruction-era South Carolina, Cameron founds the Ku Klux Klan, battling Elsie's congressman father and his African-American protégé, Silas Lynch.

Picture of Lillian Gish

Lillian Gish

Stoneman's Daughter Elsie

Picture of Mae Marsh

Mae Marsh

Flora Cameron

Picture of Henry B. Walthall

Henry B. Walthall

Col. Ben Cameron

Picture of Miriam Cooper

Miriam Cooper

Margaret Cameron

Picture of Mary Alden

Mary Alden

Stoneman's Housekeeper Lydia

Picture of Ralph Lewis

Ralph Lewis

Leader of the House Hon. Austin Stoneman

Picture of George Siegmann

George Siegmann

Lieut. Governor Silas Lynch

Picture of Walter Long

Walter Long

Gus

Picture of Robert Harron

Robert Harron

Tod

Picture of Wallace Reid

Wallace Reid

Jeff, the Blacksmith

Picture of Joseph Henabery

Joseph Henabery

Abraham Lincoln

Picture of Elmer Clifton

Elmer Clifton

Stoneman's Elder Son Phil

Picture of Josephine Crowell

Josephine Crowell

Mrs. Cameron

Picture of Spottiswoode Aitken

Spottiswoode Aitken

Dr. Cameron

Picture of George Beranger

George Beranger

Wade Cameron

Picture of Maxfield Stanley

Maxfield Stanley

Duke Cameron

Picture of Jennie Lee

Jennie Lee

Mammy

Picture of Donald Crisp

Donald Crisp

Gen. U.S. Grant

Picture of Howard Gaye

Howard Gaye

Gen. Robert E. Lee

Picture of Sam De Grasse

Sam De Grasse

Senator Charles Sumner (uncredited)

Picture of William De Vaull

William De Vaull

Nelse (uncredited)

Picture of Willam Freeman

Willam Freeman

Jake / Sentry at Hospital (uncredited)

Picture of Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson

Stoneman's Servant (uncredited)

Picture of Fred Burns

Fred Burns

Klansman (uncredited)

Picture of Allan Sears

Allan Sears

Klansman (uncredited)

Picture of Elmo Lincoln

Elmo Lincoln

Blacksmith (uncredited)

Picture of Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Black Woman (uncredited)

Picture of Raoul Walsh

Raoul Walsh

John Wilkes Booth (uncredited)

Picture of Monte Blue

Monte Blue

(uncredited)

Picture of Harry Braham

Harry Braham

Cameron's Male Servant (uncredited)

Picture of Bob Burns

Bob Burns

Klan Leader (uncredited)

Picture of Edmund Burns

Edmund Burns

Klansman (uncredited)

Picture of Edward Burns

Edward Burns

Klansman (uncredited)

Picture of Peggy Cartwright

Peggy Cartwright

Young Girl in Cabin (uncredited)

Picture of Dark Cloud

Dark Cloud

General (uncredited)

Picture of Leonore Cooper

Leonore Cooper

Elsie's Maid (uncredited)

Picture of Charles Eagle Eye

Charles Eagle Eye

Man Who Falls from Roof (uncredited)

Picture of John Ford

John Ford

Klansman (uncredited)

Picture of Olga Grey

Olga Grey

Laura Keene (uncredited)

Picture of Alberta Lee

Alberta Lee

Mrs. Lincoln (uncredited)

Picture of Betty Marsh

Betty Marsh

Child with Dr. Cameron (uncredited)

Picture of Donna Montran

Donna Montran

Belle of 1861 (uncredited)

Picture of Eugene Pallette

Eugene Pallette

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Picture of Alma Rubens

Alma Rubens

Belle of 1861 (uncredited)

Picture of Charles Stevens

Charles Stevens

Volunteer (uncredited)

Picture of Jules White

Jules White

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Picture of Violet Wilkey

Violet Wilkey

Young Flora Cameron (uncredited)

Picture of David Butler

David Butler

Northern Soldier / Confederate Soldier (uncredited)