United States v. Amistad

Questions for Further Study

• 1.: In what sense was the Amistad case a victory for abolitionists?
• 2.: The Amistad case was a highly complex one. Summarize the facts of the case and the legal issues it presented.
• 3.: What were the international implications of the Amistad case? What role did issues involving the transportation of slaves and maritime law play in the outcome of the case?
• 4.: What role did domestic politics play in attitudes toward the case and the U.S. government’s position on it?
• 5.: Why were Joseph Cinqué and the other Africans aboard the vessel not put on trial for murder and mutiny?