1. The Amistad Case

2. How the Mutiny Happened Africans are kidnapped and sold into slavery by warring tribes. Treated like animals, slaves are kept tightly packed in the hull. Not allowed to even move around on the deck. Joseph Cinque and 56 fellow Africans free themselves from the chains and manage to gain control of the ship. They allow 2 of the Spanish men to live as sources of navigation

3. Why Enslave fellow Africans? As we discussed yesterday, warring tribes took captives and made those captives slaves. Europeans realized they could exploit this and began paying and supplying certain tribes for new slaves. As they increased aid, certain tribes would actually pick fights so that the Europeans would want the slaves.

4. The Actual Case of the Amistad The mutineers are finally captured off the coast of Long Island. Several parties claimed ownership of the “property” on board the Amistad. Among these parties, were the King and Queen of Spain. President Van Buren, running for re-election and trying to smooth things out with the voters sided with Spain and demanded that the court find in favor of the Spanish and send the Africans there.

5. Amistad Case Cont. The District Court, however, agreed with the abolitionists. Their decision was to return the ship to the Spanish and the Africans back to their homeland. Not to be defeated, and under strict orders from MVB to have the decision overturned, Attorney General Henry Gilpin appealed to the Supreme Court. After a stirring debate in front of our High Court, the case ultimately came down to briefing of former President John Q. Adams. Adams singlehandedly brought the institution of slavery to its knees. Citing the hypocrisy of the US and its policies in the matter.

6. Video Time!!!

7. The “Aftermath” of the Case The two Spanish slave traders get nothing and head back to Cuba broke. Queen Isabella of Spain really didn’t care MVB loses re-election bid to Harrison Cinque and his followers get to go back to their homes in Sierra Leone. Unfortunately, they went back in the middle of a civil war…

8. Slavery In America... Wrist Restraints Runaway Slave Poster

9. Slaves working in the cotton fields

10. Slave Cabin in Tennessee

11. A Slave Auction

12. Scars from being whipped

13. Belled slave collar

16. Cotton Gin