Curated OER
The Amistad Case
Students analyze the Amistad case and how it impacted slavery in the United States. They, in groups, receive a document, answers the focus questions and presents their findings to the class.
Curated OER
The Amistad Case: A Mock Trial
Students hold a mock trial. In this Amistad case lesson plan, students prepare for and participate in a mock trial regarding the Amistad case and determine the fate of the Africans recovered on the ship.
Federal Judicial Center
Amistad and Dred Scott—a Comparative Activity
What do slaves fighting for their freedom on board a ship and a slave fighting for his freedom in a courtroom have in common? Budding historians investigate the two different cases of the Amistad slave revolt and the Dred Scott argument....
DocsTeach
U.S. v. Amistad: A Case of Jurisdiction
Just what is jurisdiction and why does it matter? A helpful activity takes academics on a journey to understand how judicial jurisdiction works. Scholars read excerpts from the Constitution and court documents to understand the process...
Curated OER
The Role of the Connecticut Abolitionists with the Amistad Case
Tenth graders compare the activities of the Underground Railroad with the Amistad Case. In this slavery lesson, 10th graders research primary and secondary sources to discover information about Connecticut abolitionists. Students use...
Curated OER
The Amistad Case
Students research the case of The Amistad and the individuals involved with the case. They write editorials, compare the movie version to actual historical documents and write a one-act play presenting their findings.
Curated OER
Who Was Cinque?
High schoolers examine the Amistad revolt and its significance in the American debate over slavery. They review and discuss period newspaper reports about the revolt.
Curated OER
Antislavery Sentiments
Students review the basic facts of the Amistad slave ship case. They are challenged to test their powers of close reading by being asked to summarize the decision handed down by the Supreeme Court of the United States in 1841. Students...
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: The Amistad Case
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides background information for the Amistad case, several of the actual documents involved in the case, and teaching activities that correlate the information (at the bottom of...
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: The Amistad Case:
Pictures and text from the Smithsonian Institute about the 1839 slave rebellion on the slave ship, The Amistad and the ensuing trial of the 36 Africans involved in the rebellion.
US National Archives
National Archives: u.s. V. Amistad: A Case of Jurisdiction
Young scholars will review the Amistad case and use passages from the case explore the concept of jurisdiction and how a case travels through the federal court system. Also, included are links to the background of the Amistad case, a...
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Amistad Trials
This site discusses the history and significance of the Amistad trial. Make sure to click on the "cont." link for more information on the history of the case.
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Stamped With Glory: Lewis Tappan and the Africans of the Amistad
Read about Lewis Tappan, "an abolitionist and devout Christian," and his participation with the Amistad trial. Providing detailed information and original documents, this is an excellent resource on Tappan and his efforts to expedite...
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Amistad: Lewis Tappan
A short essay on the life of abolitionist Lewis Tappan and his involvement with the Amistad case.
US National Archives
Docsteach: u.s. V. Amistad: A Case of Jurisdiction
Students will analyze specified passages from the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Libellants of Schooner Amistad to explore the concept of jurisdiction and how a case travels through the federal court system.
Other
History of the Federal Judiciary
Incredibly in-depth site regarding the history of the federal judiciary. Well organized, easy to navigate, and crisply arranged, this site can be used for many lessons. The accuracy of the information is very reliable since its author...
Library of Congress
Loc: Slavery the Peculiar Institution
Using primary sources, explore the slavery system in the South. Sources include advertisements for slaves, pictures of slave ships, the Supreme Court decision in the Amistad case, spiritual freedoms, journal entries, and pamphlets.