The Amistad was a mutinied ship of 1839. It was a Spanish schooner that was taken over by a group of captive Africans who were being transported from Cuba to the Caribbean. The captives, led by Joseph Cinque, took control of the ship and attempted to sail it back to Africa. After being captured by the US Navy, the captives were put on trial in the United States for piracy and murder. The case eventually went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the captives and they were eventually freed.