The movie Amistad depicted the slave uprising aboard La Amistad and the court cases that led to their release back to Africa. In 1839, several Africans were captured and transported by Spanish slave traders to be sold to plantation owners in Cuba and the United States. During the journey, the slaves led an attack on the ship’s crew, killing all members except Jose Ruiz and Pedro Montez. Cinque, a Mende, led the revolt after freeing himself and arming the ships occupants with swords and clubs. With the ship under their control, they demanded Ruiz and Montez to sail the ship back home to their homeland of Africa. At night, Ruiz and Cortez changed the course of the ship in an attempt to sail for Cuba or the United States and save themselves.
