n 1839, Sengbe Pieh, who later became known as Cinque, was captured and taken as a slave. He his sold several times until eventually he comes into the hands of Spanish slave traders. Even though at that time, every European nation had signed treaties declaring slaves were no longer to be taken from Africa, the profits were so large that many Europeans flouted the laws. Cinque and the rest of the slaves then are loaded onto the ship and carried across the "middle passage" to Cuba where they are sold to new masters. It is there that the Africans have their names changed to conceal the fact that they were not born into slavery, but freed men and women who were kidnaped into bondage. In Cuba, fifty-three Africans board the Amistad which is bound for their owners plantation near Puerto Principe. Rations are cut due to delays, and the Africans are subjected to beatings and starvation. During a storm, Cinque uses a nail he found to work free the lock holding his iron collar on. After he......
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Approximate Word Count: 858
Approximate Pages: 4 (260 words per double-spaced page) |