The Significance of La Amistad: It's Place in History

Supreme Court on La Amistad Author: Allison Khan As La Amistad arrived in the United States the question of what to do with the remaining people on board became a prominent question. Since the Slave Trade was abolished in both the Unites States and Spain, they technically had to be declared “free citizens.” However, many people at the time did not agree with this sentiment and thus the case was taken to the Supreme Court where the Mende (African) people were represented by John Quincy Adams. In this case, Adams purported that the Africans were being wrongfully enslaved under international law, and should therefore be considered free (Nester 140). On the other hand, the appellants (represented by Henry Gilpin) purported that the insurrection was somewhat unlawful and unjustified. Over the course of two years the case finally reached a decision, and in a 7-1 majority vote the Mende people were declared free. The majority decision was given by Justice Joseph Story, and sided with the argu...

Drawing of the Deck of La Amistad Date and Artist unknown Author: Shanna Campbell "A child's experience of enslavement is qualitatively different from that of an adult for a number of reasons, not least of which is that even when they are ostensibly free, as children they remained dependents and wards of others" (Lawrence, 89). The stories of children who were in enslaved families are often overlooked for the stories of the enslaved adults. It can be difficult to get the stories of children of enslaved families during this time, which is why they are often overlooked. However, in the case of La Amistad , due to its high profile, access to details around the children became easier. The Mende children on board La Amistad  were closely tied to the 1839 case, and their freedom also came into question during the trial. Lawrence, in chapter 3 of his book, discusses that children and women were the most vulnerable to "the notion that African slave status must be positioned ...

Cinque, The Chief of La Amistad's captives Joseph Cinquez Addressing His Compatriots on board the Spanish Schooner, Amistad

La Amistad  Replica at Mystic Seaport in 2010 Author: Shanna Campbell 2 September 1839 : The play The Long, Low Black Schooner  opened in NYC, playing to a full house. This play was based on the revolt. 1962 : Robert Hayden published a poem titled "Middle Passage." In this poem, he retold the story of the revolt on La Amistad , gave background on the slave trade, and retold the trial. 1988 : Robert Skimm's novel Gray Victory  is published. In the book, the South won the American Civil War, and an abolitionist group attempting to infiltrate Richmond, Virginia calls itself "Amistad." 1997 : Steven Spielberg's film Amistad  comes out, based on the events aboard and surrounding  La Amistad . 1998-2000 : Artisans at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut build a replica of La Amistad . 1999 : Whitney Huston's hit single "My Love Is Your Love" references the "chains of Amistad." January 2011 : Random House published Ardency , a collection of p...

La Amistad  off Culloden Point, Long Island, New York Date: 26 August 1839 Contemporary Painting, Artist Unknown PRIMARY SOURCES John Quincy Adams's Request for Papers Relating to the Lower Court Trials of the Amistad Africans [Petition for Certioriari]; 1841; United States, Appellants, v. The Libellants and Claimants of the Schooner Amistad, her tackle, apparel and furniture, together with her cargo, and the Africans mentioned and described in the several libels and claims, Appellees; Appellate Jurisdiction Case Files, 1792 - 2014; Records of the Supreme Court of the United States, Record Group 267; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/adams-amistad-request, April 23, 2021] Proctors' Answer; 1/7/1840; Thomas R. Gedney v. Schooner Amistad; Case Files, 1790 - 1911; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives at Boston, Waltham, MA. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.o...