Amistad Sectionalism

The film “Amistad” by Steven Spielberg is about the 1839 African slave mutiny aboard the Spanish ship, La Amistad. During the voyage Cinque played by Djimon Hounsou, is a slave aboard the ship who creates an uprising. Cinque and the rest of the slaves seize the ship, killing the crew and kept Captain Montes played by Victor Rivers and his first mate played by Geno Silva. As Montes continues to sail the ship the slaves believe they are going back home but come to find themselves in the shores of New York. There they are captured by the US Navy, and put in prison for murder. The District Attorney William S. Holabird is played by Pete Postlethwaite, who believes that the slaves on the ship should be charged for murder and piracy. The other attorney Roger Baldwin played by Matthew McConaughey who is hired by Theodore Joadson played by Morgan Freeman. Baldwin argues that the slaves on the
Also in the film Amistad not only stages a mutiny but also showed how sectionalism was prominent during this time which presented itself to be a notable event for abolitionist movement. The sectionalism portrayed in the film emphasizes the entrenched divisions between the north and south especially in the institution of slavery. Analyzing this film will prove that sectionalism, division, portrayals of the south and north make for an accurate rendering of Amistad. Amistad brings out an amazing cast that portrays sectionalism between two places that coincidentally reside just miles from each other. Holabird portrays the views of the south and Baldwin alongside of Joadson portray the north. Holabird believes that the slaves are cargo and should be treated as such. The slaves murdered the people on the ships and should be punished due to their crimes. This also brought the attention of President Martin Van Buren played by Nigel Hawthorne. Along his side, was the governor of