Amistad Reflection

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The film Amistad by Steven Spielberg is based on actual events that occurred in 1839 on a ship by the name of La Amistad. This ship was carrying about 40 African people beneath the deck. As this ship travels from Cuba to the United States, the slave leader by the name of Cinqué escapes his shackles, unlocks all the other slaves shackles and leads a revolt against the crew members; eventually overthrowing all the crew member and taking charge of the ship. They spare the lives of two crewmembers in order to use them to steer the ship in the right direction on their journey back to Africa. However, the crewmembers trick the mutineers into thinking that they were headed back to Africa, but instead they had steered the ship to the east coast of the United States. …show more content…

The slaves are then taken from the prison cells to the New Haven District Court where they are put in front of a judge for a legal battle. Roger Balwin, a lawyer employed by an abolitionist by the name of Mr. Tappen and his African American partner Mr. Joadson choose to represent the Africans. Baldwin and Joadson search the La Amistad and find a document hidden in the hull that proves the Africans were originally captives of a Portuguese slave ship by the name of The Tecora. Thus, the Africans were initially free citizens of another country and not enslaved what so ever. For this reason, Judge Coglin has ruled in favor of the Africans and Baldwin wins the case. However, the case soon after gets appealed and taken to the Supreme Court. Former president John Quincy Adams, then joins Baldwin in the defense of the Africans to strengthen their defense in the highest court. Ultimately, resulting in the success of winning the case and the Africans are set

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