who played the lawyer in amistad

Who are the actors in Amistad?

Amistad (1997) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.

Is Amistad based on a true story?

Dec 25, 1997 · Amistad: Directed by Steven Spielberg. With Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou. In 1839, the revolt of Mende captives aboard a Spanish owned ship causes a major controversy in the United States when the ship is captured off the coast of Long Island. The courts must decide whether the Mende are slaves or legally free.

What was the Amistad case?

Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou, and Matthew McConaughey had starring roles. David Franzoni 's screenplay was based on the 1987 book Mutiny on the Amistad: The Saga of a Slave Revolt and Its Impact on American Abolition, Law, and Diplomacy, by …

Is Amistad a good movie to watch?

Aug 25, 2012 · The Amistad Africans were not represented by some fly-by-night lawyer scratching for a living but fighting the good fight alone. Several successful lawyers represented the captives. They were Roger Sherman Baldwin (later to become a U.S. Senator), Theodore Sedgwick, and Seth Staples (who later founded Yale’s law school).

Who was the lawyer in the Amistad case?

Roger Baldwin was a Yale-educated forty-six-year old New Haven lawyer with a reputation for defending the unfortunate when he was asked to represent the Africans of the Amistad.

Is the movie Amistad historically accurate?

While the film is loosely based on the true story of a group of Mende people from Sierra Leone, who in 1839 overpowered their Spanish captors aboard the slave ship La Amistad, it is largely a tale of white hero worship.Dec 29, 1997

Who does Baldwin quote in John Quincy Adams?

Who does Baldwin quote in his letter to John Quincy Adams? Baldwin quotes Cicero in his letter. 19.

What did Baldwin do in Amistad?

When Baldwin decided to defend the African prisoners in the Amistad case, he gained national recognition. The Amistad was a Spanish slave ship that was illegally transporting recently captured Mendi Africans to Cuba when the Mendi on board revolted and gained control.

What does Amistad stand for?

friendshipOn June 28, Montes and Ruiz and the 53 Africans set sail from Havana on the Amistad (Spanish for “friendship”) for Puerto Principe (now Camagüey), where the two Spaniards owned plantations.Sep 23, 2019

Why was the Amistad incident instrumental in changing attitudes of Northerners about slavery in the South?

Why was the Amistad incident instrumental in changing attitudes of Northerners about slavery in the South? Suggested Response: The case illustrated vividly that there was no logical reason why a black person born in the U.S. should be a slave while a black person born in Africa should be free.

Did John Quincy Adams try the Amistad case?

Abolitionists enlisted former US President John Quincy Adams to represent the Amistad captives' petition for freedom before the Supreme Court. Adams, then a 73-year-old US Congressman from Massachusetts, had in recent years fought tirelessly against Congress's “gag rule” banning anti-slavery petitions.

When was Quincy Adams President?

March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829John Quincy Adams / Presidential term

What was John Quincy Adams famous quote?

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost. America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy.

What happened to the Amistad slaves?

On August 29, 1839, the Amistad was towed into New London, Connecticut. The government charged the slaves with piracy and murder, and classified them as salvage property. The 53 Africans were sent to prison, pending hearing of their case before the U.S. Circuit Court in Hartford, Connecticut.

Who was Mr Roger Baldwin?

Roger Sherman Baldwin (January 4, 1793 – February 19, 1863) was an American politician who served as the 32nd Governor of Connecticut from 1844 to 1846 and a United States Senator from 1847 to 1851. As a lawyer, his career was most notable for his participation in the 1841 Amistad case.

What parts of the Constitution were implicated in the Amistad case?

By insisting that the case fell under the treaty, the Spanish were invoking the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which would put the clauses of the treaty above the state laws of Connecticut or New York, where the ship had been taken into custody, "no one who respects the laws of the country ought to oppose ...

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Storyline

Amistad is the name of a slave ship travelling from Cuba to the U.S. in 1839. It is carrying a cargo of Africans who have been sold into slavery in Cuba, taken on board, and chained in the cargo hold of the ship.

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Sir Anthony Hopkins astounded the crew by delivering the entire seven page courtroom speech in a single take. Steven Spielberg was so in awe, he couldn't bring himself to call him Tony, and insisted on addressing him as Sir Anthony throughout the shoot.

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By what name was Amistad (1997) officially released in India in English?

What is the movie Amistad about?

(film) Amistad is a 1997 American historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the events in 1839 aboard the spanish slave ship La Amistad, during which Mende tribesmen abducted for the slave trade managed to gain control of their captors' ship off the coast of Cuba, and the international legal battle ...

What is the story of La Amistad?

Plot. La Amistad is a slave ship transporting captured Africans from Spanish Cuba to the United States in 1839. Joseph Cinqué, a leader of the Africans, leads a mutiny and takes over the ship. The mutineers spare the lives of two Spanish navigators to help them sail the ship back to Africa.

What is the most valuable thing about Amistad?

What is most valuable about "Amistad" is the way it provides faces and names for its African characters, whom the movies so often make into faceless victims. In 2014, the movie was one of several discussed by Noah Berlatsky in The Atlantic in an article concerning white savior narratives in film, calling it 'sanctimonious drivel.'.

What is the Amistad case?

Many academics, including Columbia University professor Eric Foner, have criticized Amistad for historical inaccuracy and the misleading characterizations of the Amistad case as a "turning point" in the American perspective on slavery. Foner wrote: "In fact, the Amistad case revolved around the Atlantic slave trade — by 1840 outlawed by international treaty — and had nothing whatsoever to do with slavery as a domestic institution. Incongruous as it may seem, it was perfectly possible in the nineteenth century to condemn the importation of slaves from Africa while simultaneously defending slavery and the flourishing slave trade within the United States... Amistad ’s problems go far deeper than such anachronisms as President Martin Van Buren campaigning for re-election on a whistle-stop train tour (in 1840, candidates did not campaign), or people constantly talking about the impending Civil War, which lay 20 years in the future."

What book was Mutiny on the Amistad based on?

David Franzoni 's screenplay was based on the 1987 book Mutiny on the Amistad: The Saga of a Slave Revolt and Its Impact on American Abolition, Law, and Diplomacy, by the historian Howard Jones. The film received largely positive critical reviews and grossed over $44 million at the US box office.

Who is James Covey?

Consequently, seeking to make the case more personal, on the advice of former American president (and lawyer) John Quincy Adams, Baldwin and Joadson find James Covey, a former slave who speaks both Mende and English.

Who represents the claim of the Spanish government that the African captives are property of Spain?

Secretary of State John Forsyth, on behalf of President Martin Van Buren (who is campaigning for re-election), represents the claim of the Spanish government that the African captives are property of Spain based on a treaty.

How does Amistad illustrate the horrors of the slave trade?

Amistad illustrates the horrors of the slave trade as it clarifies the divisive nature of the slavery issue in the United States. It exposes the tolerance of slavery by most Northerners as well as the power of the abolitionist movement.

Who played Joadson in The Abolitionist?

1. Remember the argument between Joadson [played by Morgan Freeman] and the Tappan character [the rich abolitionist]? The Tappan character claimed that the martyrdom of the Amistad Africans would be a small price to pay if it helped end slavery. Do you agree?

Why did Van Buren want the Amistad Africans kept as slaves and returned to the Cubans

To avoid a problem in U.S. relations with Spain , President Van Buren wanted the Amistad Africans kept as slaves and returned to the Cubans. It is not right to allow foreign policy to be carried out at the expense of the freedom of others. Again, in this case, the ends do not justify the means. As to the “war on terror”, many argue that it is a different matter and that we need to use torture, secret prisons, imprisonment without trial and other tactics that are against the traditions of the U.S. in order to win. They point out that the rights of others are always sacrificed in war, even the right to life itself. Other assert that if we employ an “ends justify the means” rationale for our actions we will lose our souls. This is a great question for debate.

What did the AMA do in the Civil War?

After 1850, the AMA focused primarily on abolitionist activities. During the Civil War the AMA opened schools for slaves freed by the Union Armies.

Who argued the case before the Supreme Court?

They were Roger Sherman Baldwin (later to become a U.S. Senator), Theodore Sedgwick, and Seth Staples (who later founded Yale’s law school). Baldwin and Adams argued the case before the Supreme Court, with Mr. Baldwin making the arguments that the Court eventually adopted.

What was the movie Amistad about?

Steven Spielberg's 1997 film Amistad based on the true story of slaves who upon being taken prisoner aboard the Spanish vessel La Amistad rebelled against their captors with the help of their leader Sengbe Pieh known more as Cinque and were put on trial for murder in the United States only ...

Who visited John Quincy Addams?

Following the election of a new judge in the Amistad case, much to the fury of Roger Baldwin, Theodore Joadson goes to visit John Quincy Addams in Massachusetts in an attempt to persuade him to join the case although more to give him news regarding the case which Addams has been reading about.

Did Cinque speak Mende?

In truth, only three of the Africans, Cinque included spoke Mende and thus testified before the federal court through Covey about their reasons for mutiny on the Amistad. Also except for an African-American on trial, no African-American even an abolitionist could enter the White House or a courtroom for that matter.

What is the movie Amistad about?

His new film centers on the legal status of Africans who rise up against their captors on the high seas and are brought to trial in a New England court.

Who plays Martin Van Buren?

Advertisement. Nigel Hawthorne plays President Martin Van Buren, who is portrayed as a spineless compromiser who wants only to keep the South off his back; the character is played in the same note as his pathetic old George III in “ The Madness Of King George ,” when more shrewd calculation might have been effective.

Who plays Cinque in the movie?

The film opens on the ship Amistad, where Cinque ( Djimon Hounsou) is able to free himself from shackles and release his fellow prisoners.

Who won the big case?

That John Quincy Adams wins his big case is a great achievement for him and a great relief for Cinque and his fellow captives, but in the sad annals of American slavery, it is a rather hollow triumph. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013.

Amistad

'Amistad' is about a 1839 mutiny onboard a slave ship that is traveling towards the Northeast Coast of America. Much of the story involves a court-room drama about the slave who led the revolt.

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This movie is still amazingly powerful 20 years later. I saw it when it came out, and just rewatched it with my 15 yr old who is taking AP history this year. Great portrait of the tensions pre-civil war, as well as the pain and horrors of the middle passage.

Who asked the court to hand over the Amistad?

The two Spaniards asked the court to hand over the Amistad to Spanish officials. They also demanded the cargo — and they included as part of the cargo the black men and children they claimed to own as slaves. Judge Andrew Judson’s background did not suggest that he would be sympathetic to the Africans.

What is the Amistad story?

October 14, 2010. Director Stephen Spielberg deserves credit for bringing to public attention what historians used to refer to dismissively as “the Amistad incident.”. It is the story of a group of Africans who were captured in Sierra Leone and brought in chains to the Americas — and who revolted, ...

Why did Cinque kill Cook?

They found sugar cane knives and stormed the deck. According to Foulewa, “Cinque killed cook, because cook said he was going to kill them and eat them. He killed the captain after he killed an African.”. Before their stories were known, the Amistad Africans had often been portrayed as violent savages.

Where did the Amistad sail from?

It is the story of a group of Africans who were captured in Sierra Leone and brought in chains to the Americas — and who revolted, captured their ship, the Amistad, and eventually were seized off the coast of New England. They won their freedom in a case before the Supreme Court and ultimately sailed back to their homeland in Africa.

Did Spielberg's Amistad distort the history?

Unfortunately, Spielberg’s movie Amistad not only distorts the historical record – arguably an inevitability in a Hollywood feature – but also misses much of the story’s drama and significance.

What is the movie Amistad based on?

It was based on the true story of an uprising in 1839 by newly captured African slaves that took place aboard the ship La Amistad off the coast of Cuba. The African slaves suffered under the hands of authorities.

What does Amistad represent?

It represents misery and melancholy. The musical scoring of Amistad was a big help for the emotional tone of the film. Personally, every piece of music used in “Amistad” is useful. Every music play in this film fits the scene that is shown.

Why is the boat in Amistad called the boat?

There are some other reasons why it was the boat. It is because the Africans during that time were chained and were transported through a boat, therefore the set has to be a boat to express the same feeling. The setting did not function as a microcosm since ...

What happened to the Amistad boat?

Until one night, they fought the authorities on the boat “Amistad” to regain freedom. They won but this incident was brought to the lower court up to the Supreme Court of the United States of America. The decision finally was in favor of the Africans and they were given freedom to go home to Africa.

What is the theme of Amistad?

ON THEMES AND FOCUS. “Amistad” is primarily concerned on the plot. It shows how the African fought for their right of freedom. The Africans was caught by other races in their own place, they were punished and hit but they did not fight.

Is Amistad realistic?

The costumes represent people in that period of time, the male’s suits were large and they have hats on their heads. The movie “Amistad” happened in real life. Therefore, the make-up should be realistic and natural.

Is Amistad a good film?

“Amistad” was one of the films that have good cinematography. At first, I find the film boring but when I saw that this film keeps on moving, I find it interesting and that I should not miss any single scene. Each scene has its own relevance and message. The filmmaker kept the film in constant motion and it was very active to view.

What happened in the Amistad case?

In February of 1839, Portuguese slave hunters abducted a large group of Africans from Sierra Leone and shipped them to Havana, Cuba, a center for the slave trade. This abduction violated all of the treaties then in existence.

Who was the leader of the Mutiny on the Amistad?

Read More... Warrant for Habeas Corpus Ordering Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinque), Leader of the Mutiny, and the Other Africans Who Were Aboard the Amistad to Appear in Court.

How many Amistad Africans were released?

The Court ordered the immediate release of the Amistad Africans. Thirty five of the survivors were returned to their homeland (the others died at sea or in prison while awaiting trial). Materials created by the National Archives and Records Administration are in the public domain.

Where was the Amistad seized?

Additional Background Information. Montes and Ruiz actually steered the ship north; and on August 24, 1839, the Amistad was seized off Long Island, NY , by the U.S. brig Washington. The schooner, its cargo, and all on board were taken to New London, CT.

Who represented the Africans in the trial?

In the trial before the Supreme Court, the Africans were represented by former U.S. President, and descendant of American revolutionaries, John Quincy Adams. Preparing for his appearance before the Court, Adams requested papers from the lower courts one month before the proceedings opened.