Amistad
Amistad is a recreation of the true story about an 1839 slave revolt on a small Spanish schooner, La Amistad, ironically the Spanish word for "friendship." Spielberg does a great job in recreating the Amistad revolt that spurred a series of trials beginning in the lower courts of Connecticut and ultimately ending in the Supreme Court. Events following the revolt raise controversial questions about slavery and freedom. This case not only marks a milestone for Abolitionists in their fight against slavery but it also questioned the natural laws of our Constitution.Leading up to the trial of the Africans, Spielberg illustrates the horrors the slaves endured as they were captured and taken from their homes. It is very distressing to see the cruelty that was imposed on the slaves as they were captured. The slaves were shackled and chained, then packed in an unsanitary, overcrowded slave ship, and exposed to inhuman treatment, on the Portuguese slaver Tecora as it makes its way through the Middle Passage towards Cuba. Although a third of the slaves died aboard the Tecora before it reached its destination, those that survived the trip were eventually auctioned into slavery in Havanna, Cuba.
Army, capturing the Africans and forcing them to face a trial, on charges of murder and mutiny. The most impressive scene being when Cinque, stands up in the courtroom scene where he stands up and says, "Make Us Free", "Make Us Free". Baldwin of Connecticut to defend the Africans. At least for a short time when Judson ruled that the Africans had been kidnapped and ordered their return to Africa. In the movie, John Quincy Adams was moved to represent the Africans by a talk he had with Cinque in John Quincy Adam's greenhouse. The Africans had control of the Amistad for only a short time before it was seized by the U. I give Amistad **** and would recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy a heart felt story out of American History. The Abolitionists play a big part in the outcome of this trial. I felt this was the most emotional part of the entire movie. Adams accepted the case and in the Supreme Court trial, Adams delivered an emotional argument challenging the Court to grant the Africans liberty on the basis of the natural rights as outlined in the Declaration of Independence. They had brought national attention to a great social injustice. For the first time in history, Africans seized by slave dealers had won their freedom in American courts. The Abolitionists and Africans felt that justice had been served, until President Van Buren requested an appeal to the Supreme Court, in which five of the justices had been slave owners. It pointed out the need to change American laws which contradicted the natural laws expressed in our Constitution.
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Acceptance Essays
