The Amistad Incident

The Amistad Incident in 1839 involved a slave ship, the La Amistad, where captured Africans, primarily from West Africa, seized control of the vessel to gain freedom. The ship was eventually intercepted near the U.S. coast, leading to a legal battle over their status. The case questioned whether the Africans were free individuals or property, ultimately ruling that they had been illegally enslaved and should be freed. This incident fueled abolitionist efforts and highlighted issues of slavery and human rights in the United States.