Amistad Seized

Aug 29, 1839. In January 1839, 53 Africans were seized near modern-day Sierra Leone, taken to Cuba and sold as slaves. While being transferred to another part of the island on the ship Amistad, led by the African Cinque, they seized control of the ship, telling the crew to take them back to Africa. However, the crew secretly changed course, and the ship landed at Long Island, NY, where it and its “cargo” were seized as salvage. The Amistad was towed to New Haven, CT, where the Africans were imprisoned and a lengthy legal battle began to determine if they were property to be returned to Cuba or free men. John Quincy Adams took their case all the way to the Supreme Court, where on Mar 9, 1841, it was determined that they were free and could return to Africa.

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