The time is 1839. Cuba is still a possession of Spain. Like the Southern United States and other parts of the New World, slavery holds sway in Cuba. Despite the fact that the international slave trade has been declared illegal, black market ships still take human cargos from Africa to barracoons in the Americas. After recovering from the horrors of the middle passage the newly arrived Africans are given new clothes and their skins are oiled to make them look healthy. They are then sold to plantation owners. Local officials are bribed to provide false papers claiming that the Africans had been born into slavery.

La Amistad is one of the ships that takes illegally captured Africans from a barracoon near Havana, Cuba, to other parts of the island. One of La Amistad's voyages doesn't go as planned. Fifty-three captives rebel, killing the captain and some of the crew. They spare the two men who had purchased them based on the promise that these men will steer the ship back to Africa. The two men appear to comply, sailing east during the day. But at night they turn the ship north and west, steering for the United States.

After two months at sea La Amistad is out of water and provisions. A U.S. navy brig (the Washington) finds the schooner off the coast of New York. The two owners tell the officers of the Washington what has happened. The Washington seizes the schooner and tows it into port. There the Africans are imprisoned. The Cuban "owners" sue for their "property". The crew of the Washington files a claim for their salvage rights. They claim a share of the value of the ship and its cargo (including the value of the Africans). A group of abolitionists come together to advocate for the rights of the Africans and, on their behalf, demand that the court free the captives.

Your assignment is to read the case of the Amistad and complete the project.  Below you can download the case and the project requirements.

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Helpful Tips for Working on Your Project:

·         Use your time wisely! Focus on answering the questions first, then if time allows work on effects and pictures.

·         Make a study date!  Meet as a group outside of school, remember days off are a good time to work.