The Amistad Revolt Essay Research Paper Amistad

The Amistad Revolt Essay, Research Paper Amistad Revolt In 1839 there was a slave rebellion of 53 Mendean men, women and children from the West coast of Africa where they had been kidnapped and then illegally transported to Cuba. They were placed aboard a schooner, Amistad, for transshipment to Cuban sugar plantations. The captives seized the vessel and sought to sail to Africa. Instead the ship was sailed, by two Cubans Ruiz and Montes which the Mendeans kept alive to sail the ship, up the coast of the United States. Amistad sailed along the United States coast until it was stopped by the US Washington off Montauk Point, NY. The ensuing trial in New Haven, Connecticut, epitomized the clash between freedom and slavery in the United States. The case was appealed all the way to

the Supreme Court where former President John Quincy Adams argued for the Africans freedom. They won their liberty and eventually returned to their homes in Africa (Hunt 1971, 3-6). Our present American History textbook doesn t include the Amistad Revolt. The Amistad Revolt should be included in future editions of American History textbook because the Amistad Revolt is an inspirational story, effect both blacks and whites, and changed the course of American History. The Amistad Revolt is a very important event in American History and it can t be ignored no longer. The Amistad Revolt is a great inspirational story for anyone. This story reaches the high point of slavery stories, along with Harriet Tubman and the underground railroads. Weather you are black or white, male or

female, this is a story that is perfect for the textbook. When a story ends like the Amistad Revolt does, the Mendeans winning the case, it makes anyone feel good. Reading a story like this one gives you that feeling, like you are floating on air. Just for that five minutes that you are reading the story you don t think about anything else. You don t think about the problems you have or the things you have to do later. All that you are thinking about is how great of a story, with a great ending. You want to be there to testify for the Mendeans, it is just a really good story. The black insurrection of the Mendi on the Amistad excites out admiration for oppressed people willing to give their lives that their brothers and sisters might live (Blassingame 1992, 1). There is not a

single person I know who wouldn t enjoy this story, even with its historical importance. There is no doubt that this should be in the American History textbooks. The Amistad Rebellion effected both blacks and whites. The Amistad Revolt invites celebration of the possibilities of blacks and whites, Americans and Africans, reaching across the chasms of color, racism, suppression, and differences in language to grasp liberty (Blassingame 1992, 1). If you where a slave in 1839 it would be horrible. Slaves weren t even close to becoming free. Yes there was an abolitionist group but it wasn t too successful. Slaves had no hope at all. The were scared to escape because of consequences if caught. There were no slaves becoming free in any form at all. When the slaves heard about the

Amistad Revolt. When they heard about how they successfully took over a ship, went all the way to the Supreme Court and won. And got there freedom, and got to go home. To top it off it all the trials took place in the United States, their home. This event made slaves and any African Americans have hope. That there is a chance that one day they might be free. For some of the slaves who gave up and had no hope left in them, this event gave them hope. The Mendeans winning their freedom shows the slaves that things are changing, slavery is becoming less and less popular among everyone in the United States. The African Americans were not the only ones effects buy the Amistad Revolt, it effected the white people also. Form the North to the South all white people where effected by the