Slave Trade Triangle

You and a partner will be responsible for the following information.

1. Write a persuasive paper of at least two typed pages (double spaced / 12 font max) reflecting your views of slavery. Include a minimum of three reasons why you agree or disagree. Also answer the following questions:

a. Approximately, how long did the voyage from Africa to the Americas take?

b. What is the estimated number of Africans that were transported to the Americas?

c. What colony of mainland North America received the first ship load of slaves and what was the year?

d. Approximately, when did the Atlantic slave trade begin and when did it end?

e. How were the majority of the slaves obtained from different tribes in Africa for the purpose of trade?

2. Include a chart of the goods that were being traded through the Middle Passage. *America to Europe *Europe to Africa *Africa to Caribbean Coast

Include the names of the main countries involved in the slave trading to the Americas.

Amistad Case of 1839

I. February of 1839

A. Portuguese slave hunters abducted or traded with tribal lords for a large group of Africans from Sierra Leone

B. Africans shipped to Havana, Cuba – a center for slave trade

C. Abduction violated all treaties in existence

D. 53 Africans purchased by two Spanish planters

E. put aboard Cuban schooner (sailed ship) called la Amistad for shipment to Caribbean plantation

II. July 1,1839

A. Africans seize ship

B. Africans kill the captain and cook

C. Ordered planters to sail to Africa

III. August 24, 1839

A. Amistad was seized off Long Island, New York by USS Washington

B. Planters were set free

C. Africans were imprisoned in New Haven, Connecticut on charges of murder

IV. First Trial August 29, 1839

A. murder charges were dismissed

B. still contained in jail over the argument of salvage claims and property rights

C. President Martin Van Buren in favor of extraditing slaves to Cuba

D. Abolitionist in North opposed extradition and raised money in defense for the Africans

E. Claims of the Africans were made by government of Spain (Queen Isabella II), the Spanish planters Pedro Montes & Jose Ruiz, the commander Lt. Thomas Gedney of the USS Washington

F. Federal District Court in Connecticut ruled that the case fell within Federal jurisdiction and the claims to the Africans as property were not legitimate because of illegally being held as slaves

V. Supreme Court in January 23, 1841

A. former President John Quincy Adams (73 years old) defended Africans case

B. Adams defended the right of the Africans to fight to regain their freedom for 8 ½ hours in court on legal and moral grounds

VI. March 9, 1841 United States vs. Amistad Supreme Court Decision

A. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Africans to be returned to their freedom in Africa… that the Africans were kidnapped and transported illegally since they were never slaves

B. Africans were permitted to go back to Africa at the US Governments expense

C. 35 of the Africans sailed back home

D. 18 Africans died in jail awaiting the outcome of the trial since 1839 or died at sea on the journey back to Africa