Amistad Rebels Seize Ship: A Fight for Freedom
Fifty-three enslaved Africans led by Joseph Cinqué seize control of the Amistad off Cuba's coast, transforming a routine transport into an international legal battle that reaches the U.S. Supreme Court. Their successful defense establishes a precedent for human rights, ultimately securing their freedom and fueling the abolitionist movement across the Atlantic.
July 2, 1839
187 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on July 2
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