Amistad+Revolt

Amistad Revolt On July 1, 1839, a group of Africans who had been captured and transported to Cuba, where they were sold as slaves, mutinied aboard the Spanish schooner Amistad. The ship ended up in the U.S., where it was apprehended by a U.S. Navy ship. Should the U.S government: • Return the Amistad and its crew to Spain, because both were the property of Spain? (PRO) • Free the Amistad Africans, because they had been kidnapped in the illegal slave trade and were free men, not property? (CON)

PRO: It is not right to have slaves, so the U.S. Navy shouldn’t return the slaves on the ship to Spain.

CON: it is not for the U.S. Navy to decide; They have no jurisdiction (power) in the matter.

PRO: So? Slavery is bad so they shouldn't give the slaves back.

CON: The U.S. signed a treaty with Spain saying it would return all rescued ships to them.

PRO: Yes but these are men and slavery is wrong. I don't care about treaties.

CON: As slaves, they are not considered men but property. If you lost property you would want it returned to you.

PRO: OK Ms. Carney, you win!