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 Amistad Revolt. I am not saying all white people suddenly became
against slavery, because that is not the case. Everyone heard about he Amistad Revolt. A
lot of people changed their minds about slavery. Many Americans learned about he
cruelties of the slave trade form the testimony of Cinque and the other captives (Lehrman
1998, 1). The trials encouraged many people to join the abolitionists (Lehrman 1998, 1).
Many white people realized that slavery was wrong. Now this was not the case in the
South as much as in the North. The South was extremely anger over the Amistad Revolt.
They were angry over the revolt and then the Mendeans winning their freedom. The
Amistad incident brought more tension between the North and the South. The Amistad
Revolt effected both blacks and whites very much when it occurred. This shows it is
important enough to be put in the American History Textbooks.
The Amistad Revolt changed the course of American History. The Amistad Revolt
effected the slavery issue in a very big way. Recent publications prove that Amistad is the
most important legal case dealing with slavery before Dred Scott (Lehrman 1998, 1). This
case changed many peoples minds, both black and white, and gave hope to slaves. The
abolitionists rose to the occasion and showed they could be successful. The Amistad trail
came at a very important time, when slavery continued to expand in the American South
and abolitionists by moral persuasion had apparently failed (Lehrman 1998, 1). The trails
changed America and the abolitionist movement (Lehrman 1998, 1). The trials encouraged
abolitionists to shift their tactics from persuasion to political and legal agitation. That
agitation would arouse increasing numbers of Americans against the immorality of slavery
(Lehrman 1998, 1). What if the Amistad Revolt never occurred. Not as many people
would have changed there minds about slavery. The abolitionists might have never became
as strong as they did because of the Amistad Rebellion. Also the Amistad Rebellion was
the first big trial that resulted in favor of African s in the United States. The Amistad
Revolt also was the first major event that proved slavery was wrong. This was a major
victory for the slaves. If the Amistad Revolt and the trials never happened the blacks
wouldn t have any big victories in the court rooms of the United States. Slavery might
have also lasted longer with out the Amistad Revolt changing people s minds and bringing
more tension between the North and the South. The Amistad Revolt changed the course
of American History, therefore it belongs in the American History textbooks.
In conclusion, the Amistad Revolt should be included in future editions of
American History textbooks because the Amistad Revolt is an inspirational story, effected
both blacks and whites, and the changed the course of American History. These three
reason are three of many reasons. No matter how you look at this topic, it points toward
the right decision. The Amistad Revolt was wrongly ignored in current American History
textbooks. Every American History textbook throughout the United States should include
the Amistad Revolt.