On this day in 1841, the Supreme Court issued a judgement freeing the remaining 35 survivors of the Amistad mutiny. Private donations paid for the Africans' safe return to Sierra Leone in January 1842.

Mutiny Off Cuba... The slave ship was, ironically, named Amistad, meaning Friendship. When the ship was near Cuba, a group of 49 African slaves on board made a move for freedom.

Sold Into Slavery. They had been captured, sold into slavery, carried across the ocean, and sold again. They were being transported on what was, for millions of Africans, the last leg of the slave trade.

Escaping the Chains. One man, who became known as Cinque, managed to slip out of his chains. He led a shipboard revolt.

Night and Day. The Africans tried to force two Cuban survivors on the ship to sail them back to Africa. During the day, the Cuban sailors aimed for Africa; at night they headed back toward North America.

Two Months Back and Forth. After two difficult months at sea, the Amistad wound up just near Long Island Sound. There the Africans were taken into custody.

A Fight Over Humans. Spain demanded that the Africans be returned to Cuba so they could be tried for piracy and murder. But abolitionists took up their cause.