The Amistad Case essays

The Amistad Case essays This case is a significant part of American history when it comes to slavery. In this particular case the Mendians have won a major victory for the abolitionists in the Americas at this time. It began on June 28, 1839 when Ruiz and Montez placed Mendians on board the schooner Amistad and set sail for the port down the Cuban coast. on the forth night of their journey, the Mendians broke free of there chains and seized Machetes, and waited until morning to attack the slave traders. At dawn they attacked the Captain and his crew. The leader of this group was given the Spanish name known as Cinque. He and his people killed all but the 2 members who escaped in the ships life boats and the 2 Cuban slavers on the condition that they would return the slaves to Africa. Instead of heading for Africa the slavers set there sails towards the United States hoping to sail to a friendly port. After the provisions on board the Amistad exhausted, the ship was apprehended off Long Island by a U.S. Coastal Survey brig and taken to New London, Connecticut. Immediately, Ruiz and Montez denounced the Mendians as revolted slaves, pirates, and murderers, and claimed them as their property. The Mendians could not speak the white man language so they could not defend themselves. On January 7, 1840, the Mendians trial began in the district court in Hartford, Connecticut. During the trial, a British commissioner stationed in Havana, uncovered that the documents establishing them as ladinos were forged. The judge persuaded by this evidence, concluded that even under Spanish law, the Mendians were free men, and ordered that president Van Buren to have them transported back to Africa. So the ruling of this case went in favor of the Mendians. It was so significant that it even went before the supreme court on February 22, 1841. Here lawyers argued that the Anglo- Americans had rights and li...