Amistad Questions
1. Give a short summary of the movie (approximately 400 words)
1839: The movie begins with an African man, Joseph Cinqué chained in the schooner of a ship. With a nail from the ship structure to pick his lock. He releases his companion Africans and they take weapons from the ship. They kill the crew, but they save 2 officers of the ship: “La Amistad”.
The Africans have taken over the ship. Cinqué believes the 2 officers can sail them back to Africa.
6 weeks later: They food and water supplies are running out. They sight land, so a little group goes to land to get fresh water. In the mean while a military vessel with an American flag passes the La Amistad. The 2 officers have tricked the Africans, and they have sailed to the United States. The Americans have captured the “Amistad Africans”. They were brought to New Haven to a municipal jail.
In the USA there followed a trial about the slaves to decide what there has to happen with them. The Americans didn’t speak the Africans language even as the Africans didn’t speak the Americans language. Everyone had different ideas what had to happen with them. Isabella II, queen of Spain wanted the Africans. Others said that they belonged to the leaders of “La Amistad”: Ruiz & Montez. There were also some abolitionists who wanted that the slaves were released and brought back to Africa.
Between the trials, the abolitionists get contact with the Africans, especially their leader Cinqué. The abolitionists want to know that the Africans were born in Africa and not on the plantations in Cuba. When the abolitionists walk on street, counting in Mendes (African language) they meet an African who can talk Mendes. He can translate things to the Africans. With him, the abolitionists go back to Cinqué.
Cinqué tells his story about how he and the other Africans were captured and how cruel it was. He tells about the journey over sea with the same cruel treatments. He tells that he was sold and that they hijacked the vessel. The interpreter and the abolitionists were really shocked. The abolitionists have now some evidence that the slaves are from Africa.
The abolitionists told the story of Cinqué to the judge. The judge finally decides that the Africans were free men, who are free to go back to Africa. This is because of the story of Cinqué. Because Ruiz & Montez had lied, they were arrested.
While the slaves celebrate their freedom, there is a state dinner at the White House. A senator from the South says to president Van Buren that slaves are very important in the South. He thinks that when president Van Buren releases the slaves from La Amistad, the South will go to war with the North. President Van Buren is afraid for a civil war, and orders that the case will be done again. But now the case is submitted to the Supreme Court.
At the Supreme Court, John Adams gives a long speech about that the Africans have to be released, back to Africa. After long considering the Supreme Court decides that the slaves were illegally captured in Africa, and not born on the plantations in Cuba. The Africans are really happy that they can go back to Africa.
When they’ve sailed back to their homes, they see that their families are gone and may be killed. Also a vessel with American soldiers came to Sierra Leone. The slave trade post was destroyed there. It is a sad end, because the Africans couldn’t see their family. The whole story is just sad.
2. Describe the mutiny on the Amistad.
The weather is heavy. Cinqué releases himself from the locks in the schooner of the ship. He helped the other Amistad Africans, as they were called. In boxes they found sabres and cane knives. They went upstairs to the deck. There they murdered the crew of the ship. The officer resisted and killed 2 Africans with guns. He has to reload, but that took to much time, and was transpierced by Cinqué through his middle. He survived.
3. Describe the arrival of the African slaves in the USA.
It was almost dark. The Africans were loaded from the ship in New Haven. The Americans with torches escorted the Africans. Chained, they were brought to the city. They were placed in a municipal jail in New Haven, which was surrounded by a big stonewall. They were locked in the dungeon cells. Cinqué resisted of going into his cell. The cells were very crowded. The women were placed in different cells than the men.
The Africans thought: “Where have we ended up?”
4. Give a short description of the two trials.
1st trial:
Begin speech:
Hear ye! In the matter of the court of the United States of America in the year of our Lord, 1839, the honourable Andrew T Judson presiding.
Many people want to claim the Africans.
- Isabella II, queen of Spain claims the Africans.
- Mr. Holabird claims the Africans. (Abolitionist)
- Mr. Tappan claims the Africans.
- 2 Officers of the ship who captured the Africans claim the Africans.
- Jose Ruiz & Pedro Montes, the owners of La Amistad claim the Africans.
In the first trial the Spaniards say that the Africans already had been slaves in Cuba at the time of purchase. The abolitionists argued that the Africans, illegally enslaved, were justified in revolting to regain freedom and were innocent of any true crime in killing their captors to achieve freedom.
In the trial the judge is changed of person, not in benefit for the abolitionists.
The judge’s decision is that he believes the slaves were born in Africa, so the abolitionists win the trial.
2nd trial: President van Buren thinks it wasn’t a wise choose of the judge so he orders that the case has to be submitted to the Supreme Court. The abolitionists get help of John Quincy Adams, member of the US House of Representatives. By his speech the court decided to let them win the trial.
End speech:
“In the case of the United States of America versus the Amistad Africans, it is the opinion of this court that our treaty of 1795 with Spain, on which the prosecution has primarily based its arguments, is inapplicable. While it is clearly stipulated in Article 9 that – and I quote – Seized ships and cargo are to be returned entirely to their proprietary. The end of quote. It has not been shown to the court’s satisfaction that these particular Africans fit that description. We are then left with the alternative that they are not slaves, and therefore cannot be considered merchandise, but are, rather, free individuals with certain legal and moral right, including the right to engage in insurrection against those who would deny them their freedom. And therefore, over one dissent, it is the court’s judgement that the defendants are to be released from custody at once, and, if they so choose, to be returned to their homes in Africa.”
5. Who is Cinqué and why is he so important for the story?
In the beginning of the movie he releases himself and so he escapes with the others. In the fight with the crew he leads his people. He was the leader of the Africans in Sierra Leone, Africa. Mr. Baldwin talks with Cinqué by an interpreter for more information
6. What is the role of Spain in the Amistad story?
Isabella II, queen of Spain claims the Africans as concerns their mutual treaty on the high seas of 1795. The slaves are the property of Spain, and under Article 9 of said treaty are to be returned post-haste.
Jose Ruiz & Pedro Montes are 2 Spanish men. They speak Spanish in the movie. La Amistad is a Spanish word what means: the friendship.
7. Why have we watched this movie as part of your History project on Slavery?
We have watched this movie as part of the History project on Slavery because it gives a good image of how cruel it was in this time period. You can see how terrible the Africans were treated. We’ve watched it also because it is nice to do something different than reading things out of a book.
Amistad Information
Another Steven Spielberg cinematic triumph, Amistad garnered four Academy Award nominations, Best Music Original Dramatic Score (John Williams) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Anthony Hopkins) among them. Based on the true story of the 1839 slave revolt aboard the slave ship Amistad, the film provides a dramatic visual glimpse into the horrors of 19th-century slavery. Just as Spielberg’s masterpiece Schindler’s List created an onscreen record to account for the Nazi atrocities of the holocaust, Amistad stands as a testament to the evils of the Atlantic slave trade and its infamous relationship with the United States of America. As such, be prepared to watch a film with graphic portrayals of human bondage and mistreatment.
Cinqué (Djimon Hounsou), the central character of the film, is lured from the safety of his African village, trapped like a wild animal, and placed in bondage aboard a large slave trading vessel bound for the Caribbean. Chained to the floor and crammed side-by-side in the hull of the galleon, hundreds and hundreds of kidnapped Africans endure brutal and barbaric treatment. They are rarely fed (and very little food is given), and each must use the bathroom where he sits, vomit where he sits, and some even die while chained to others. The conditions are best described as a literal hell on earth.
These opening scenes, just like Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, are the most vivid and powerful of the entire movie, conjuring an abundance of images certain to brand themselves in your mind forever. In one such scene, around fifteen to twenty African captives are shackled together and bound by a series of chains when one is thrown overboard. This barbarous act results in a chain reaction that drags each of the connected persons to the bottom of the sea.
But the men and women of Amistad don’t submit easily. One of them decides to fight back. Late one night, the opportunity for revolt presents itself and Cinque sparks an uprising against the ship’s crew. He and his fellow countrymen take the ship by force and kill their captors. Now free from bondage, the men attempt to sail home to their native land, but in the darkness of night, they inadvertently sail to America instead.
The grounded ship gains national political interest when the survivors of the Amistad are treated as slaves. Even President Van Buren (Nigel Hawthorne) takes an interest in the matter. When a young and idealistic lawyer named Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) and a freedman named Joadson (Morgan Freeman) take up the task of representing Cinqué’s interests in an American courtroom, the case takes on a life of its own. Cinque reveals the tale of his capture, details of the island sorting facility where future American slaves are processed, and the general torture and mistreatment of human beings in the pursuit of monetary profit. When the case goes before the Supreme Court, former President John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) enters the picture in an attempt to win a victory for freedom and individual rights.
One of the more dramatic and important films of the decade, Amistad opens your eyes to past injustice and provides a general sense of gratitude for the times in which we live. It will make you angry at the horrible practices of preceding generations. But more importantly, Amistad serves as a reminder to both current and future generations that freedom is not to be taken for granted. It is the birthright of all men, and it is our obligation to fight for it whenever we can. This important message, and its historical lessons, make Amistad one movie no human being can afford to miss.
1. Give a short summary of the movie (approximately 400 words)
1839: The movie begins with an African man, Joseph Cinqué chained in the schooner of a ship. With a nail from the ship structure to pick his lock. He releases his companion Africans and they take weapons from the ship. They kill the crew, but they save 2 officers of the ship: “La Amistad”.
The Africans have taken over the ship. Cinqué believes the 2 officers can sail them back to Africa.
6 weeks later: They food and water supplies are running out. They sight land, so a little group goes to land to get fresh water. In the mean while a military vessel with an American flag passes the La Amistad. The 2 officers have tricked the Africans, and they have sailed to the United States. The Americans have captured the “Amistad Africans”. They were brought to New Haven to a municipal jail.
Between the trials, the abolitionists get contact with the Africans, especially their leader Cinqué. The abolitionists want to know that the Africans were born in Africa and not on the plantations in Cuba. When the abolitionists walk on street, counting in Mendes (African language) they meet an African who can talk Mendes. He can translate things to the Africans. With him, the abolitionists go back to Cinqué.
Cinqué tells his story about how he and the other Africans were captured and how cruel it was. He tells about the journey over sea with the same cruel treatments. He tells that he was sold and that they hijacked the vessel. The interpreter and the abolitionists were really shocked. The abolitionists have now some evidence that the slaves are from Africa.
The abolitionists told the story of Cinqué to the judge. The judge finally decides that the Africans were free men, who are free to go back to Africa. This is because of the story of Cinqué. Because Ruiz & Montez had lied, they were arrested.
While the slaves celebrate their freedom, there is a state dinner at the White House. A senator from the South says to president Van Buren that slaves are very important in the South. He thinks that when president Van Buren releases the slaves from La Amistad, the South will go to war with the North. President Van Buren is afraid for a civil war, and orders that the case will be done again. But now the case is submitted to the Supreme Court.
At the Supreme Court, John Adams gives a long speech about that the Africans have to be released, back to Africa. After long considering the Supreme Court decides that the slaves were illegally captured in Africa, and not born on the plantations in Cuba. The Africans are really happy that they can go back to Africa.
When they’ve sailed back to their homes, they see that their families are gone and may be killed. Also a vessel with American soldiers came to Sierra Leone. The slave trade post was destroyed there. It is a sad end, because the Africans couldn’t see their family. The whole story is just sad.
2. Describe the mutiny on the Amistad.
The weather is heavy. Cinqué releases himself from the locks in the schooner of the ship. He helped the other Amistad Africans, as they were called. In boxes they found sabres and cane knives. They went upstairs to the deck. There they murdered the crew of the ship. The officer resisted and killed 2 Africans with guns. He has to reload, but that took to much time, and was transpierced by Cinqué through his middle. He survived.
3. Describe the arrival of the African slaves in the USA.
It was almost dark. The Africans were loaded from the ship in New Haven. The Americans with torches escorted the Africans. Chained, they were brought to the city. They were placed in a municipal jail in New Haven, which was surrounded by a big stonewall. They were locked in the dungeon cells. Cinqué resisted of going into his cell. The cells were very crowded. The women were placed in different cells than the men.
4. Give a short description of the two trials.
1st trial:
Begin speech:
Hear ye! In the matter of the court of the United States of America in the year of our Lord, 1839, the honourable Andrew T Judson presiding.
Many people want to claim the Africans.
- Isabella II, queen of Spain claims the Africans.
- Mr. Holabird claims the Africans. (Abolitionist)
- Mr. Tappan claims the Africans.
- 2 Officers of the ship who captured the Africans claim the Africans.
- Jose Ruiz & Pedro Montes, the owners of La Amistad claim the Africans.
In the first trial the Spaniards say that the Africans already had been slaves in Cuba at the time of purchase. The abolitionists argued that the Africans, illegally enslaved, were justified in revolting to regain freedom and were innocent of any true crime in killing their captors to achieve freedom.
In the trial the judge is changed of person, not in benefit for the abolitionists.
2nd trial: President van Buren thinks it wasn’t a wise choose of the judge so he orders that the case has to be submitted to the Supreme Court. The abolitionists get help of John Quincy Adams, member of the US House of Representatives. By his speech the court decided to let them win the trial.
End speech:
“In the case of the United States of America versus the Amistad Africans, it is the opinion of this court that our treaty of 1795 with Spain, on which the prosecution has primarily based its arguments, is inapplicable. While it is clearly stipulated in Article 9 that – and I quote – Seized ships and cargo are to be returned entirely to their proprietary. The end of quote. It has not been shown to the court’s satisfaction that these particular Africans fit that description. We are then left with the alternative that they are not slaves, and therefore cannot be considered merchandise, but are, rather, free individuals with certain legal and moral right, including the right to engage in insurrection against those who would deny them their freedom. And therefore, over one dissent, it is the court’s judgement that the defendants are to be released from custody at once, and, if they so choose, to be returned to their homes in Africa.”
5. Who is Cinqué and why is he so important for the story?
In the beginning of the movie he releases himself and so he escapes with the others. In the fight with the crew he leads his people. He was the leader of the Africans in Sierra Leone, Africa. Mr. Baldwin talks with Cinqué by an interpreter for more information
6. What is the role of Spain in the Amistad story?
Isabella II, queen of Spain claims the Africans as concerns their mutual treaty on the high seas of 1795. The slaves are the property of Spain, and under Article 9 of said treaty are to be returned post-haste.
Jose Ruiz & Pedro Montes are 2 Spanish men. They speak Spanish in the movie. La Amistad is a Spanish word what means: the friendship.
7. Why have we watched this movie as part of your History project on Slavery?
We have watched this movie as part of the History project on Slavery because it gives a good image of how cruel it was in this time period. You can see how terrible the Africans were treated. We’ve watched it also because it is nice to do something different than reading things out of a book.
Another Steven Spielberg cinematic triumph, Amistad garnered four Academy Award nominations, Best Music Original Dramatic Score (John Williams) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Anthony Hopkins) among them. Based on the true story of the 1839 slave revolt aboard the slave ship Amistad, the film provides a dramatic visual glimpse into the horrors of 19th-century slavery. Just as Spielberg’s masterpiece Schindler’s List created an onscreen record to account for the Nazi atrocities of the holocaust, Amistad stands as a testament to the evils of the Atlantic slave trade and its infamous relationship with the United States of America. As such, be prepared to watch a film with graphic portrayals of human bondage and mistreatment.
Cinqué (Djimon Hounsou), the central character of the film, is lured from the safety of his African village, trapped like a wild animal, and placed in bondage aboard a large slave trading vessel bound for the Caribbean. Chained to the floor and crammed side-by-side in the hull of the galleon, hundreds and hundreds of kidnapped Africans endure brutal and barbaric treatment. They are rarely fed (and very little food is given), and each must use the bathroom where he sits, vomit where he sits, and some even die while chained to others. The conditions are best described as a literal hell on earth.
These opening scenes, just like Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, are the most vivid and powerful of the entire movie, conjuring an abundance of images certain to brand themselves in your mind forever. In one such scene, around fifteen to twenty African captives are shackled together and bound by a series of chains when one is thrown overboard. This barbarous act results in a chain reaction that drags each of the connected persons to the bottom of the sea.
But the men and women of Amistad don’t submit easily. One of them decides to fight back. Late one night, the opportunity for revolt presents itself and Cinque sparks an uprising against the ship’s crew. He and his fellow countrymen take the ship by force and kill their captors. Now free from bondage, the men attempt to sail home to their native land, but in the darkness of night, they inadvertently sail to America instead.
The grounded ship gains national political interest when the survivors of the Amistad are treated as slaves. Even President Van Buren (Nigel Hawthorne) takes an interest in the matter. When a young and idealistic lawyer named Baldwin (Matthew McConaughey) and a freedman named Joadson (Morgan Freeman) take up the task of representing Cinqué’s interests in an American courtroom, the case takes on a life of its own. Cinque reveals the tale of his capture, details of the island sorting facility where future American slaves are processed, and the general torture and mistreatment of human beings in the pursuit of monetary profit. When the case goes before the Supreme Court, former President John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) enters the picture in an attempt to win a victory for freedom and individual rights.
One of the more dramatic and important films of the decade, Amistad opens your eyes to past injustice and provides a general sense of gratitude for the times in which we live. It will make you angry at the horrible practices of preceding generations. But more importantly, Amistad serves as a reminder to both current and future generations that freedom is not to be taken for granted. It is the birthright of all men, and it is our obligation to fight for it whenever we can. This important message, and its historical lessons, make Amistad one movie no human being can afford to miss.
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