who was the lawyer who defended the armistad slaves

Full Answer

Who was the African American lawyer at the Supreme Court 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.

Who argued the Amistad case in front of the Supreme Court?

On February 24, 1841, former President John Quincy Adams begins to argue the Amistad case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. A practicing lawyer and member of the House of Representatives, John Quincy Adams was the son of America’s second president, founding father and avowed abolitionist John Adams.

How did the Amistad Committee defend the African captive?

The African captive’s defense was organized by the Amistad Committee - a group of local abolitionists. They argued that Spanish law and international treaty forbade the importation of Africans for the slave trade. Pieh and the others described their kidnap, mistreatment, and sale into slavery.

What was the African captive's defense against the Spanish?

The African captive’s defense was organized by the Amistad Committee - a group of local abolitionists. They argued that Spanish law and international treaty forbade the importation of Africans for the slave trade.

Who defended the Amistad slaves?

President John Quincy AdamsAbolitionists 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.

Who argued the Amistad case?

President John Quincy AdamsOn February 24, 1841, former President John Quincy Adams begins to argue the Amistad case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. A practicing lawyer and member of the House of Representatives, John Quincy Adams was the son of America's second president, founding father and avowed abolitionist John Adams.

What was John Quincy Adams role in Amistad?

Adams was serving in the House of Representatives when he volunteered to be part of the defense team for the thirty-six Africans who took over a Spanish ship called The Amistad after being captured illegally in Africa to be sold in Cuba. After he accepted the case, Adams was extremely nervous.

Who helped the Amistad?

James Covey: The African sailor who helped the Amistad captives win freedom. Left: James Covey, illustration from A history of the Amistad captives, 1840, by John Warner Barber. Right: An oil painting of the Amistad. One hundred and eighty years ago this month, a ship left New York City for Sierra Leone.

Who was the judge in the Amistad trial?

The first Amistad trial concerned the criminal charges of murder, mutiny, and piracy against the Africans of the Amistad. Judge Smith Thompson presided as the criminal trial began on September 19, 1839.

Was John Quincy Adams a Supreme Court justice?

In February 1811, President Madison nominated Adams as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Who was the president during the Amistad case?

Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren was President of the United States during the Amistad trial. The Amistad incident placed Van Buren in a precarious situation.

Did the crew of the Amistad win the Supreme Court case?

The Verdict On March 9, 1841, the Supreme Court ruled 7-1 to uphold the lower courts' decisions in favor of the Africans of the Amistad. Justice Joseph Story delivered the majority opinion, writing that “There does not seem to us to be any ground for doubt, that these negroes ought to be deemed free.”

Was Amistad a true story?

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.

What happened to Cinque at the end of Amistad?

Cinque returned to Africa with missionaries and the remaining Amistad survivors. After his return he discovered that his family could not be found and his entire village had been destroyed.

What parties were involved in the Amistad case?

PartiesLt. ... Henry Green and Pelatiah Fordham filed a libel for salvage and claimed that they had been the first to discover La Amistad.José Ruiz and Pedro Montes filed libels requesting their property of "slaves" and cargo to be returned to them.More items...

Who seized control of the Amistad?

Armed with knives, they seized control of the Amistad, killing its Spanish captain and the ship’s cook, who had taunted the captives by telling them they would be killed and eaten when they got to the plantation. In need of navigation, the Africans ordered Montes and Ruiz to turn the ship eastward, back to Africa.

What happened to the slaves on the Amistad?

Aboard the Spanish ship were a group of Africans who had been captured and sold illegally as slaves in Cuba. The enslaved Africans then revolted at sea and won control of the Amistad from their captors. U.S. authorities seized the ship and imprisoned the Africans, beginning a legal and diplomatic drama that would shake the foundations of the nation’s government and bring the explosive issue of slavery to the forefront of American politics.

What was Cinque charged with?

Charged with murder and piracy, Cinque and the other Africans of the Amistad were imprisoned in New Haven. Though these criminal charges were quickly dropped, they remained in prison while the courts went about deciding their legal status, as well as the competing property claims by the officers of the Washington, Montes and Ruiz and the Spanish government.

Where did Montes and Ruiz sail?

On 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.

When did Cinque and the Amistad return to their homeland?

In November 1841 , Cinque and the other 34 surviving Africans of the Amistad (the others had died at sea or in prison awaiting trial) sailed from New York aboard the ship Gentleman, accompanied by several Christian missionaries, to return to their homeland.

What was the Supreme Court ruling in 1841?

On March 9, 1841, the Supreme Court ruled 7-1 to uphold the lower courts’ decisions in favor of the Africans of the Amistad. Justice Joseph Story delivered the majority opinion, writing that “There does not seem to us to be any ground for doubt, that these negroes ought to be deemed free.”.

Where did the Amistad sail?

But the Spaniards secretly changed course at night, and instead the Amistad sailed through the Caribbean and up the eastern coast of the United States . On August 26, the U.S. brig Washington found the ship while it was anchored off the tip of Long Island to get provisions.

Who organized the African captives defense?

The African captive’s defense was organized by the Amistad Committee- a group of local abolitionists. They argued that Spanish law and international treaty forbade the importation of Africans for the slave trade. Pieh and the others described their kidnap, mistreatment, and sale into slavery.

What was the impact of the Amistad case on the Africans?

It went from being a fragmented group to a legitimate movement, and the Amistad case helped centralize their message about the injustice of slavery. This is just one story associated with the Amistad event.

What was the first civil rights case in the United States?

Funds for the trip were raised by the Amistad Committee. The Amistad court case is credited with being the first civil rights case in the United States.

What did the Supreme Court rule in the Pieh case?

Adams stated that American ideals of freedom demanded that the Pieh and the others be set free and returned to their homes in what is presently Sierra Leone. The Supreme Court ruled 7-1 on the side of the captive Africans.

Who appealed the Supreme Court decision?

The U.S. Attorney appealed the decision to the next highest court, the Circuit Court, which upheld the District Court's opinion. The U.S. Attorney then appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. The Amistad Committee approached former President and Secretary of State John Quincy Adamsand asked him to argue the defense before the Supreme Court.

Where were Sengbe Pieh and Joseph Story sent to?

Sengbe Pieh and Justice Joseph Story . While Piehand the others were in a New Haven prison, their case was sent to the U.S. District Court (also the Old Statehouse). A U.S. attorney, under direction from Secretary of State John Forsyth, presented Spain’s argument that the captives should be returned to Cuba.

Who was allowed to claim the slave Antonio?

It allowed the Spanish vice-consul to claim the slave Antonio. It allowed Lt. Gedney to claim one-third of the property on board La Amistad.

When was the Supreme Court case Amistad?

Supreme Court of the United States. Argued February 22 – March 2, 1841. Decided March 9, 1841. Full case name. The United States, Appellants, v. The Libellants and Claimants of the schooner Amistad, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with her cargo, and the Africans mentioned and described in the several libels and claims, Appellees.

What was the case of the schooner Amistad?

(15 Pet.) 518 (1841), was a United States Supreme Court case resulting from the rebellion of Africans on board the Spanish schooner La Amistad in 1839. It was an unusual freedom suit that involved international issues and parties, as well as United States law.

What was the case of Sandford v. Schooner Amistad?

Schooner Amistad, 40 U.S. (15 Pet.) 518 (1841), was a United States Supreme Court case resulting from the rebellion of Africans on board the Spanish schooner La Amistad in 1839.

What was the movie Mutiny on the Amistad based on?

A movie, Amistad (1997), was based on the events of the revolt and court cases, and Howard Jones' 1987 book Mutiny on the Amistad .

Where did the Amistad ship land?

The crew deceived the Africans and steered La Amistad north along the East Coast of the United States, where the ship was sighted repeatedly. They dropped anchor half a mile off eastern Long Island, New York, on August 26, 1839, at Culloden Point.

Where was La Amistad captured?

The crew tricked them, sailing north at night. La Amistad was later apprehended near Long Island, New York, by the United States Revenue Cutter Service (the predecessor of the U.S. Coast Guard) and taken into custody.

Who was the first president to argue the Amistad case?

John Quincy Adams begins arguments in Amistad case. On February 24, 1841, former President John Quincy Adams begins to argue the Amistad case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. A practicing lawyer and member of the House of Representatives, John Quincy Adams was the son of America’s second president, founding father and avowed abolitionist John ...

What was the significance of the capture of the Amistad?

The capture of the Amistad occurred in an era in which debate over the institution of slavery, its legality within the United States and its role in the American economy became more intense.

How long did the Adams v. Van Buren case last?

In a seven-hour argument that lasted two days, Adams attacked Van Buren’s abuse of executive power. His case deflated the U.S. attorney’s argument that the treaty with Spain should override U.S. principles of individual rights.

What was John Quincy Adams' stance on abolition?

Although John Quincy Adams publicly downplayed his abolitionist stance, he too viewed the practice as contrary to the nation’s core principles of freedom and equality. After serving one term as president between 1825 and 1829, Adams was elected to the House of Representatives, in which he served until his death in 1848.

What did Adams say to the judges?

In a dramatic moment, Adams faced the judges, pointed to a copy of the Declaration of Independence hanging on the courtroom wall, and said “ [I know] no law, statute or constitution, no code, no treaty, except that law…which [is] forever before the eyes of your Honors.”.

Where did the Spanish slave ship La Amistad take place?

In 1839, a Spanish slave ship named La Amistad appeared off the coast of New York. The captives aboard it, who were free Africans kidnapped in Africa and originally bound for sale in Cuba, had rebelled, killing the Spanish ship’s captain and cook.

Who was the President of Spain in 1795?

Spain, backed by a 1795 anti-piracy treaty with the U.S., also claimed rights to the Amistad and her cargo. President Martin Van Buren, personally neutral on the issue of slavery and concerned about his popularity in southern states, supported Spain’s claim.

Who was the vocal opponent of slavery until his death in 1848?

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm CXXIV. John Quincy Adams remained a vocal opponent to slavery until his death in 1848 when he suffered a stroke at the U.S. Capitol.

What did John Adams fight for?

He lost re-election in 1829 and by 1830 had been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he fought to repeal the “gag rule,” which prohibited the discussion of slavery on the House floor. In 1840 Lewis Tappan and Ellis Gray Loring of the Amistad Committee approached the 72-year old Adams to defend the Amistad captives.

What did Quincy Adams do?

He had extensive experience within the government, had argued before the Supreme Court, negotiated international treaties, and abhorred slavery. The captives’ fate rested on his ability to successfully present their case to the Supreme Court. Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767 in Braintree, Massachusetts to John and Abigail Adams.

What happened to John Quincy Adams?

John Quincy Adams remained a vocal opponent to slavery until his death in 1848 when he suffered a stroke at the U.S. Capitol. This is just one of many stories associated with the Amistad event. To learn more about others involved, please access the main People page of this itinerary.

What did John Adams do for the United States?

In this role he led discussions to resolve continued disputes with Great Britain and negotiated a more peaceful relationship. He arranged for the United States to purchase Florida from Spain, and was behind the Transcontinental Treaty, which established a border between US and Spanish land holdings. In 1825 Adams became President.

Who gave John Quincy Adams the Bible?

In November 1841 the Mende Africans gave Adams a bible as a token of thanks. An accompanying letter stated: To The Honorable John Quincy Adams. Most Respected Sir, The Mendi People give you thanks for all your kindness to them. They will never forget your defence of their rights before the Great Court at Washington.

What happened to the Amistad case?

The Amistad case entered the federal courts and caught the nation’s attention. The murder charges against the Amistad captives were quickly dropped, but they remained in custody as the legal focus turned to the property rights claimed by various parties.

Where was the Amistad landed?

Instead, the ship was seized off Long Island by a US revenue cutter on August 24, 1839. The Amistad was then landed in New London, Connecticut, where the American cutter’s captain filed for salvage rights to the Amistad ’s cargo of Africans.

Why did the Van Buren administration decide that no one owned the Africans?

The court ruled that no one owned the Africans because they had been illegally enslaved and transported to the New World. The Van Buren administration appealed the decision, and the case came before the US Supreme Court in January 1841.

What happened to John Quincy Adams?

John Quincy Adams to Roger S. Baldwin, November 11, 1840. (Gilder Lehrman Collection)#N#On July 1, 1839, fifty-three Africans, recently kidnapped into slavery in Sierra Leone and sold at a Havana slave market, revolted on board the schooner Amistad. They killed the captain and other crew and ordered the two Spaniards who had purchased them to sail them back to Africa. Instead, the ship was seized off Long Island by a US revenue cutter on August 24, 1839. The Amistad was then landed in New London, Connecticut, where the American cutter’s captain filed for salvage rights to the Amistad ’s cargo of Africans. The two Spaniards claimed ownership themselves, while Spanish authorities demanded the Africans be extradited to Cuba and tried for murder.

What happened to the Amistad trial?

During the Amistad trial, public sympathy was kindled, and the captives were freed. Much has been written about the Amistad event-Steven Spielberg has produced a feature-length film, and a replica of the ship has been rebuilt and docked in New Haven.

Who were the three people who were arrested for the Amistad?

A few years after the "Negro college" incident, Simeon Jocelyn, Arthur Tappan, and Roger Sherman Baldwin found themselves back together again, advocating for racial justice in the case of the Amistad captives. The captives were a group of West Africans who had been kidnapped and sold into slavery in Cuba, had mutinied, and gained control of their vessel. In their attempt to return to Africa, they were re-captured and jailed in New Haven in 1839. This time, however, Baldwin and Jocelyn did not face hundreds of hostile neighbors all alone. During the Amistad trial, public sympathy was kindled, and the captives were freed.

Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that ruled to free the Amistad Africans in 1841

Likewise, Maryland's own Roger B. Taney, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that ruled to free the Amistad Africans in 1841, would in 1857 hand down the infamous Dred Scott decision, declaring: "The black man has no rights that the white man is bound to respect.".

Who was the hero of the Creole Mutiny?

The hero of the Creole mutiny was Madison Washington who had escaped from slavery in Virginia, but was recaptured when he went back to rescue his wife. Washington and 325 other slaves were put on the Creole to be sent to New Orleans, but somewhere between Hampton, Va., and New Orleans, he and 19 black men overpowered the white slavers and had ...

What was the Mende case about?

The court case centered around whether or not the group of Mende people had been made the legal property of their Spanish captors and whether or not kidnapped black men could be equated with merchandise. Most black people in America had already been declared to be the legal property and merchandise of white men.

How did the white abolitionists take advantage of the Africans?

Second, their presence created a carnival-like atmosphere, which the white abolitionists took advantage of by putting the Africans on display like animals in a zoo. Over a three-day period, more than 3,000 whites paid 12 cents apiece to gawk at the Africans.

What is the movie Amistad about?

BLACK people who think that Steven Spielberg 's latest movie "Amistad" is about black heroes taking their freedom by any means necessary are doomed to disappointment upon seeing the movie.

What is the greatest disservice the movie renders to the American public?

The greatest disservice the movie renders to the American public is to grossly distort race relations in 19th-century America.

Overview

Background

Initial court proceedings

Arguments before Supreme Court

Decision

Aftermath and significance

See also

Notes