Amistad Movie – (SSUSH2 Alignment)

Rebellion aboard La Amistad: How is this uprising like resistance during the Middle Passage?

• Like enslaved Africans on colonial slave ships, they resisted dehumanization through rebellion.

• Resistance during the Middle Passage only happened in Africa, not at sea.

• The uprising was unique to the 1800s, with no connection to colonial slavery.

• Africans universally accepted their condition in the colonies.

What does Cinqué’s knowledge of stars reveal about African contributions to the colonies?

• Africans brought agricultural, navigational, and survival skills that supported colonial economies.

• Colonists rejected any contributions from Africans.

• Africans only contributed unskilled labor.

• Africans arrived without useful knowledge for the colonies.

Captives brought to America: How does this reflect the Middle Passage’s role in the economy?

• The transatlantic slave trade supplied labor that fueled plantations.

• Colonists relied solely on indentured servants.

• The trade was mainly for religious conversion.

• The trade had little economic impact.

Court debates property vs freedom: How is this like colonial rule under Salutary Neglect?

• Colonists, like the court, often created local rules/laws that conflicted with imperial authority.

• Colonial governance was strictly controlled by the King without local variation.

• Colonists had no role in governance.

Abolitionists intervene: How is this like the Great Awakening?

• Both questioned authority by appealing to higher moral law.

• Both encouraged obedience to traditional institutions.

• Both discouraged unity across groups.

• Both rejected moral arguments in debates.

Newspaper coverage: How is this like the spread of ideas in colonial society?

• Just as pamphlets spread Great Awakening and self-government ideas, newspapers spread debates over slavery.

• Print media rarely influenced public opinion.

• Both discouraged public discussion of controversial topics.

• Both spread only government-approved viewpoints.

African cultural practices aboard ship: What does this show about early cultural diversity?

• Africans maintained traditions despite forced migration.

• Colonists completely erased African culture.

• Cultural practices had no influence on colonial life.

• Africans immediately adopted European customs.

Cinqué’s leadership: What does his leadership demonstrate?

• African self-governance and community organization, similar to colonial assemblies.

• Only European leaders could organize resistance.

• Africans had no influence on community survival.

• Leadership was irrelevant to survival.

How does this resemble colonial self-government?

45–50 min – Africans attempt to return home What does this emphasize?

• The role of African knowledge in resisting enslavement.

• Africans had no ability to influence outcomes.

• Their journey was entirely dictated by colonists.

• Survival depended solely on European assistance.