After watching Amistad and reading Walker Howe’s What Hath God Wrought and Sean Wilentz’s the Rise of American Democracy, the terrors of slavery and the incongruities of the legal system in a divided America was made apparent. The story of the Amistad Case is heart wrenching, but clearly exemplifies the changed our country has made in the definition of human rights and foreign agreements.
Amistad tells the story of captured Africans who were transported from Cuba to America. Cinque, an African leader, frees himself from his chains and then helps others escape. He then leads a revolt to the take control of the ship from the Spanish, leaving two men alive to man and steer the ship back to Africa. The Spaniards trick them and steer them to Connecticut, …show more content…
The case was a pivotal part of the abolitionist movement, but the threat of civil war was exaggerated and a bit pre mature, especially in the dramatic discussions between Van Buren and Calhoun. The tension between sections was on the rise, and the case did cause tension, but true panic of succession and war came a little later. The verdict of this specific case would not have necessarily speed up the progress towards war. Another alteration is the verdict of the Supreme Court, it actually did not rule that the government had to send the people back to their homes, instead the abolitionists had to raise the money to pay for their travels. Out of the Amistad Case arose the American Missionary Association, with the help of Cinque. Even in the midst of tragedy, after finding out his family was missing, he tried to help his people (Howe, p. 523).
Amistad successfully shows the atrocities of the Middle Passage while educating its audience about the people and places involved in the Amistad Case. The movie clarifies the order of the judicial system in America and the importance of certain verdicts, especially during reelection. It also educates the viewer about the legislation used to defend the case, especially when the Englishman describes the inconsistency of the sale and falsification of the names of the Mende people. Lastly, this movie highlights the tension of foreign policy and the breaking of agreements between Spain, Britain, and the US on
Amistad tells the story of captured Africans who were transported from Cuba to America. Cinque, an African leader, frees himself from his chains and then helps others escape. He then leads a revolt to the take control of the ship from the Spanish, leaving two men alive to man and steer the ship back to Africa. The Spaniards trick them and steer them to Connecticut, …show more content…
The case was a pivotal part of the abolitionist movement, but the threat of civil war was exaggerated and a bit pre mature, especially in the dramatic discussions between Van Buren and Calhoun. The tension between sections was on the rise, and the case did cause tension, but true panic of succession and war came a little later. The verdict of this specific case would not have necessarily speed up the progress towards war. Another alteration is the verdict of the Supreme Court, it actually did not rule that the government had to send the people back to their homes, instead the abolitionists had to raise the money to pay for their travels. Out of the Amistad Case arose the American Missionary Association, with the help of Cinque. Even in the midst of tragedy, after finding out his family was missing, he tried to help his people (Howe, p. 523).
Amistad successfully shows the atrocities of the Middle Passage while educating its audience about the people and places involved in the Amistad Case. The movie clarifies the order of the judicial system in America and the importance of certain verdicts, especially during reelection. It also educates the viewer about the legislation used to defend the case, especially when the Englishman describes the inconsistency of the sale and falsification of the names of the Mende people. Lastly, this movie highlights the tension of foreign policy and the breaking of agreements between Spain, Britain, and the US on