The Amistad Incident

In the summer of 1839, the Amistad, a Spanish coastal schooner carrying 39 kidnapped Africans, was found in Long Island Sound and brought to New London. The captives, who had been sold into slavery in Cuba, had taken over the ship and were attempting to sail back to Africa. Following a hearing onboard the Amistad while she lay anchored off Fort Trumbull, the 39 Africans were transported by ship to New Haven for trial on charges of mutiny and murder. After many appeals, in 1841 the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the Amistad captives had been illegally kidnapped and were due their freedom. The incident created an intense legal, political, and widespread debate and galvanized the abolitionist movement.

New London, Connecticut · United States