Abraham Lincoln northern states
A theme is the message the playwright is trying to communicate to the audience. Themes are usually topics that should be analyzed by the audience in order to reflect about the message behind the play, and on their own reality.
A plot are the events and actions that happen in a drama. It could be a synonym of the story itself, since the plot refers to the sequence of events.
The setting is the time and place in which the drama is set. It is usually found at the beginning of the play, and it gives information about the context of the story, and prepares the reader for the action.
Characters are the people or creatures who are part of the drama. They are the ones that either perform or are affected by the actions. It is through their dialogues that the playwright explores the themes in the play.
I don't think a correction is necessary. Both parts of the sentence are already in the present tense. Plus, the use of "us" in the beginning of the sentence indicates a personal attachment.
