Amistad Review :: essays papers

Amistad ReviewSteven Spielbergs Amistad is centered on the legal status ofAfricans caught and brought to America on a Spanish striver ship. TheAfricans rise up and begin a mutiny against their captors on the highseas and be brought to trial in a New England court. The court must define if the Africans be actu all in ally born as slaves or if they wereillegally brought from Africa. If the Africans were born as slavesthen they would be guilty of murder, but if their being brought herefrom Africa is illegal, they had the compensate to defend themselves. Thiswas not such a simple issue since the slave distribute had been banned bytreaties at the time of the Amistad incident in 1839. The impression startson board the Amistad. On the ship the leader of the Africans, Cinque,frees himself from his chains and frees the persist of his tribe. Theyslaves be being taken from a Havana slave market to some otherdestination in Cuba. The deuce custody who bought them ar spared, andprom ise to take the slaves ski binding to Africa. Instead, the Amistad isguided into US waters, and the Africans end up being tried in a NewEngland court. Luckily, it is a Northern court. If the slaves hadended up in the sec they would have no chance of getting off. Theslaves are first defended by Roger Baldwin a well-off real estatelawyer who bases the case on billet law. Only slowly does Baldwincome to see his clients, the slaves, as human beings. Also, two Bostonabolitionists, an immigrant called Tappan, and a former slave namedJoadson are in the defense. Together these men work to try to free the53 slaves aboard the Amistad. After the slaves are tried and freed atthe New England district court, they must go to the Supreme Court. Inthe Supreme Court John Quincy Adams, former president, who is fightingfor the freedom of all men, defends them. He gives an 11 minute speechand persuades the Supreme Court to free the slaves as individualsbecause all men are free under the Decl aration of Independence. Theslaves are freed once and again and choose to return to theirhomeland. However, Cinque discovers that his village has beendestroyed and the rest of his family has already been sold intoslavery. This is where Cinque emerges as a powerful character. He wasonce a free farmer living in peace with his instanter lost wife and family.Amistad Review essays papersAmistad ReviewSteven Spielbergs Amistad is centered on the legal status ofAfricans caught and brought to America on a Spanish slave ship. TheAfricans rise up and begin a mutiny against their captors on the highseas and are brought to trial in a New England court. The court mustdecide if the Africans are actually born as slaves or if they wereillegally brought from Africa. If the Africans were born as slavesthen they would be guilty of murder, but if their being brought herefrom Africa is illegal, they had the right to defend themselves. Thiswas not such a simple issue since the slave trade had been banned bytreaties at the time of the Amistad incident in 1839. The movie startson board the Amistad. On the ship the leader of the Africans, Cinque,frees himself from his chains and frees the rest of his tribe. Theyslaves are being taken from a Havana slave market to anotherdestination in Cuba. The two men who bought them are spared, andpromise to take the slaves back to Africa. Instead, the Amistad isguided into US waters, and the Africans end up being tried in a NewEngland court. Luckily, it is a Northern court. If the slaves hadended up in the South they would have no chance of getting off. Theslaves are first defended by Roger Baldwin a well-off real estatelawyer who bases the case on property law. Only slowly does Baldwincome to see his clients, the slaves, as human beings. Also, two Bostonabolitionists, an immigrant called Tappan, and a former slave namedJoadson are in the defense. Together these men work to try to free the53 slaves aboard the Amistad. After the slaves are tried and freed atthe New England district court, they must go to the Supreme Court. Inthe Supreme Court John Quincy Adams, former president, who is fightingfor the freedom of all men, defends them. He gives an 11 minute speechand persuades the Supreme Court to free the slaves as individualsbecause all men are free under the Declaration of Independence. Theslaves are freed once and again and choose to return to theirhomeland. However, Cinque discovers that his village has beendestroyed and the rest of his family has already been sold intoslavery. This is where Cinque emerges as a powerful character. He wasonce a free farmer living in peace with his now lost wife and family.