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 America's 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...