1841

Former President John Quincy Adams argues the Amistad Africans' case before the US Supreme Court for eight hours over two days in February–March 1841. The Court rules 7-1 that the Africans were free people illegally kidnapped, not property, and must be freed. Thirty-five survivors return to Sierra Leone in 1842. The case becomes a landmark in antislavery litigation.

On November 7, 1841, Madison Washington leads 19 enslaved men in seizing the brig Creole, which was transporting 135 enslaved people from Hampton Roads, VA to New Orleans. Washington steers the ship to Nassau, Bahamas, where British authorities free 128 people as legally free upon British soil. The US demands their return; Britain refuses, causing a serious diplomatic incident.

Solomon Northup, a free Black man from Saratoga Springs, NY, is drugged and kidnapped by slave traders in Washington, DC in April 1841 and sold to Louisiana planters. He endures 12 years of enslavement — witnessing vicious floggings, sexual violence, and worked near to death on Red River cotton plantations. His 1853 memoir documents specific atrocities in granular detail.

Solomon Northup, a free Black man from Saratoga Springs, NY, is drugged and kidnapped by slave traders in Washington, DC in April 1841 and sold to Louisiana planters. He endures 12 years of enslavement, witnessing vicious floggings, sexual violence, and worked near to death on Red River cotton plantations. His 1853 memoir documents specific atrocities with granular detail.

In 1839, 53 captive Africans led by Sengbe Pieh seized the Spanish slave schooner Amistad after being illegally kidnapped from West Africa. John Quincy Adams argued for the Africans before the Supreme Court. On March 9, 1841, the Court ruled 7-1 that since the Africans had been illegally enslaved under Spanish law, they had the right to use force to free themselves. They were returned to Africa in 1842. The case became a landmark in abolitionist activism.

In 1839, 53 captive Africans led by Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinqué) seized the Spanish slave schooner Amistad after being illegally kidnapped from West Africa. The ship was captured by the U.S. Navy and the case moved through American courts. John Quincy Adams argued for the Africans before the Supreme Court. On March 9, 1841, the Court ruled 7–1 that since the Africans had been illegally enslaved under Spanish law (the Atlantic trade was nominally banned), they had the right to use force to free themselves. They were returned to Africa in 1842. The case became a landmark in abolitionist activism.

On November 7, 1841, Madison Washington led 128 enslaved people aboard the domestic slave ship Creole in a successful revolt while en route from Hampton Roads, Virginia to New Orleans. Washington and his co-conspirators killed one white man and took control of the ship, then sailed to Nassau in the Bahamas. British authorities there freed 128 of the 135 captives as free persons on free soil, holding only those directly involved in the killing. The U.S. government demanded their return; Britain refused. Secretary of State Daniel Webster's protests were unavailing. The Creole revolt was the most successful slave revolt in American history.

A free Black New Yorker is drugged, kidnapped, and sold South — twelve years later his memoir exposes the kidnapping of free people.