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Amistad began
The story of the Amistad began when hundreds of native Africans were captured from Mendeland near Sierra Leone, and sold into the slave trade. -
slave factory
Cinque captured by other Africans, taken to the slave factory in Lomboko and sold to a Portuguese slave trader -
islands
the schooner L'Amistad, being the property of Spanish subjects, cleared out from the port of Havana, in the island of Cuba, for Puerto Principe, in the same island. -
Amistad captured by crew of U.S.S
Amistad captured by crew of U.S.S. Washington off of Long Island, New York; Africans held and taken with Amistad to New London, Connecticut; Judicial hearing, presided over by Judge Judson, on the U.S. S. Washington; Africans await trial in a New Haven, Connecticut jail. -
lengthy battle
On August 29, 1839, the Amistad was towed to New London, Connecticut, where the African's legal struggle for freedom was taken in the lengthy battle which involved the President of the United States, John Quincy Adams. -
LETTER FROM LEWIS TAPPAN (SEPT. 9, 1839
on september 9, 1839 Abolitionist Lewis Tappan arrived on Friday with three African men -
the first amistad trial
The first Amistad trial concerned the criminal charges of murder, , and piracy against the Africans of the Amistad. Judge Smith Thompson presided as the criminal trial began on September 19, 1839. -
slaves
On the 19th of September, the Attorney of the United states, for the district of Connecticut, setting forth, that the Spanish minister had shown to the government of the United States, a claim for the restoration of the ship, cargo, and slaves, as the property of Spanish which had arrived within the limits of the United States and were taken possessions. -
distric court
Judge Hudson presiding in District Court rules the Africans are to be turned over to the President for return to Africa. -
supreme court
Judge Thompson of the Circuit Court holds the District Court decision government appeals to U.S. Supreme Court -
LETTER FROM KA-LE TO ADAMS
I want to write a letter to you because you love Mendi people and you talk to the Great Court. Want to tell you one thing. Jose Ruiz say we born in havanna, he tell lie . . . we all born in Mendi--we no understand Spanish language . . . we want you to ask the court what we have done wrong. What for Americans keep us in prison. Some people say Mendi people crazy dolts because we no talk American language. Americans no talk Mendi. American people crazy dolts? They tell bad things about Mendi peopl
