I can think of many that were set in the 18th century or during the Napoleonic era; and of course in the Civil War and pretty much every era after it. But in the nearly half century between Napoleon and Lincoln, I’m drawing a blank. Too bad too, as there is plenty to be mined from that time including Jacksonianism, the revolutions of 1848, and immigration patterns in the U.S. that still affect our culture and politics.
You may have heard of “Les Miserables”.
Another less popular one would be The Barchester Chronicles by Trollope.
There have been a number of Dickens stories taking place during that period (e.g. Oliver Twist, The Pickwick Papers, David Copperfield).
Thackeray has “Vanity Fair” that has been adapted as well, although part of it is during the Napoleonic Wars.
Not a great movie, but definitely an epic/costume drama set in your time period: Tony Richardson’s Charge of the Light Brigade.
You MAY count Martin Scorsese’s*** Gangs of New York.***
Oops, I notice you specified dramas, so some of the ones I mentioned wouldn’t qualify (e.g. The Pickwick Papers). Mea culpa.
The President’s Lady might go into that time period. There’s also Young Mr. Lincoln and others about Lincoln before he became president. The Young Victoriashould cover that time span also.
A fellow named Charles Dickens wrote a few things…
Oliver Twist, 1837
Nicholas Nickleby, 1839
A Christmas Carol, 1843
David Copperfield, 1850
Great Expectations, 1860
Figured I could count on you guys for some examples.
Keeping in mind that I’m talking about movies and TV here: are there many about RL historical figures primarily known for historical events within that time period (so, not counting the “Young _______” genre)? Seems like so far the only nominee is The Charge of the Light Brigade. Anything from the 1820s, '30s, or '40s?
Jezebel with Bette Davis (1850s New Orleans)
The Young Victoria (mid 19th century England)
Benito Juarez shows up as a character in Zorro’s Fighting Legion, but I don’t think that’s quite what you have in mind. 
All the versions of Jane Eyre I have, film or miniseries, are set in the 1830s.
Another much-adapted story from that era is The Count of Monte Cristo (which doesn’t involve real historical figures, of course).
The miniseries of Middlemarch is also set during the 1830s and features a pre-Reform local election and the coming of the railways to a midlands English county among its numerous other plot elements.
Similarly, Cranford is set in rural England during the 1840s. That’s a TV miniseries, though, and not a movie, so I don’t know if it qualifies. Hope it does – it’s one of my all-time faves.
Davey Crocket, died at The Alamo in 1836.
Ah, the Alamo, right. That accounts for a goodly proportion of such films, I bet.
Both Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn count.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South (novel and BBC miniseries) was published in 1855 and the action is set in that time, too.
Eugene Onegin (Pushkin’s novel in verse, later opera and film) was published between 1825 and 1833 and set in the 1820s.
**The Adams Chronicles
** from PBS in 1976 spend a considerable amount of time in the 1816 to 1860 period. Though I am finding the mini-series fairly boring and I like the subject matter.
It’s still not clear if you’re talking about stage dramas or movies, but there are several of both
Amistad – the mutiny occurred in 1839 and the trial in 1841. I love the film in part because it does take place in this less-covered period in American History. It also features twoAmerican presidents being played by British actors.
Davy Crockett - Day was mentioned above, but I’ thinking of the Disney TV series 9episodes iof which were collcted and shown theatrically, so it’s not just TV). They depicted things such as Washington DC during that period, withwonderful “glass paintings” depcting the Capitol building with its original dome.
Two versions of The Alamo, of course, as suggested above.
On TV, William Daniels (who also played John and Sam Adams) played John Quincy Adams twice – Once in 1952 in A Woman for the Ages, and in the 1970s omnn The Adams Chronicles. At least it was anAmerican this time, insteac of the British Anthony Hopkins.
Interview with the Vampire?