In Feb., 1839, Portuguese slave hunters kidnapped hundreds of Africans and brought them to Cuba for sale. Two Spanish plantation owners bought 53 at auction. They were loaded on a ship called the Amistad (“friendship”) and sailed for the Caribbean island where they had their plantations. The cargo consisted of 49 adult males and 4 kids (three girls). After several days asea, Sengbe Pieh (also known as Joseph Cinque), managed to unshackle himself. He led a revolt using knives which took over the ship on July 30. The captain and cook were killed. The cook had taunted the Africans with being eaten when they reached their destination. They forced the owners to sail to Africa, but at night they would change direction. The ship ended up wandering up the coast of the U.S. On August 26, it was encountered by the brig USS Washington anchored off Long Island. The slaves were put in chains and incarcerated. The Washington claimed the ship and its cargo under salvage rights. The Africans were accused of murder and piracy. Plus, the court had to determine the status of the cargo. The officers of the Washington, the owners, and the Spanish government all claimed the “property”. President Van Buren wanted to ease tensions with Spain by extraditing Cinque and the others. Abolitionists took up the cause and raised money for their defense. A key development was the location of a sailor who spoke their language. In the case, held in New Haven, Connecticut, the judge ruled that they were slaves and should be repatriated. The case was appealed and ended up in the Supreme Court. John Quincy Adams was recruited because he was famously anti-slavery. Adams was 73 and serving in the House of Representatives. In a lengthy defense, he accused Van Buren of abusing executive power and made an impassioned plea for freedom for the slaves. The Supreme Court voted 7-1 to return them to Africa. In November, 1841, Cinque and the 34 survivors went home.
https://www.history.com/topics/abolitionist-movement/amistad-case
Cinque
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