AMISTAD WORKSHEET (2)
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California State University, Fullerton *
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Course
100
Subject
Political Science
Date
Jan 9, 2024
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Pages
2
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POSC 100
MOVIE: AMISTAD WORKSHEET (Liberty & Judicial Independence under Art III of USC)
Please write a short response to each of the following questions:
1. What were the facts of the Amistad case?
The Amistad case was a landmark case based upon 54 Africans who were captured and brought to Cuba
upon a ship called La Amistad. Spanish sailors held these Africans captive and tricked them by sailing
towards the United States where they were taken into custody as illegal immigrants. This case was
brought before the supreme court and was ruled in favor of the Africans stating they had been kidnapped
and were able to regain their freedom
2. What were the legal principles at stake in the case?
The principle of freedom, and the question of jurisdiction in the U.S. courts. In addition the principles of
natural law, international law and the right to self defense.The Africans claimed they were illegally
enslaved and should be able to remain free as they were captured in their homeland and sold into slavery.
3. What arguments were the opposing sides making about the legal principles?
The Spanish government claimed that the Africans were their property and that prosecuting the Africans
was an act of theft. They also claimed that the Africans were lawfully enslaved according to Spanish law
and should be returned to them.
4. What did the Supreme Court rule in the case?
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Africans granting their freedom as they hold inalienable rights
and were captured illegally and forced into slavery.
5. What parts of the Constitution were implicated in the Amistad case AND why?
The Amistad case represented multiple parts of the constitution including the 1st, 5th, and 9th
amendments all with the question of whether the captive Africans had been sold into slavery illegally.
The first amendment applies to this case because it guarantees freedom of religion which the captives
used as an argument in why they were considered free people. For the fifth amendment it guarantees the
right to due process clause and the defense team for the Afriancs explained that they were denied this by
being in jail before a trial. In regard to the ninth amendment it states that the enumeration of rights in the
constitution shall not deny other rights reserved by people. The African captives used this defense
explaining that they had their right to freedom that was not stated in the constitution but it protects them.
6. Do you think the case would have come out differently if Supreme Court Justices had to stand for
election every few years? What protections do lifetime tenure on the court provide justices?
Lifetime Tenure is a bitter-sweet protection that can either make or break a case. Tenure provides justices
with the ability to avoid political pressure, so they are able to make decisions without the government or
the public involved. I believe if the supreme court justices had to stand for election the result would have
come out completely different. It would lead to a turnover on the court where a set of justices could vote
in favor for the African Captives, or it could have changed in rule in the Spanish’s favor. It really depends
given the circumstance but I believe if the justices had to stand for reelection I believe the decision would
be completely different based on conflicting political views and public opinion.
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