Together these men work to try to free the fifty three slaves that are on the Amistad. The court was asked to turn the prisoners over to the president and let him decide since this dealt with the relations of great powers. The Africans were no longer said to be prisoners but were still held until the district court could decide whether they were property and if they were, whose property were they. President Martin Van Buren, is in favor of the Southern slave interests as well as the Spanish government, appealed the ruling and the case eventually reached the Supreme Court.
In the Supreme Court John Quincy Adams, former president, who is fighting for the freedom of all men, defends the African slaves. He gave an eleven minute speech and persuaded the Supreme Court to free the slaves as individuals because? all men are free? under the Declaration of Independence. The judge found the slaves to be illegally imported. Saying that the Africans were? born free? and kidnapped and mistreated, the judge announced they were to be freed.
