I read recently in a book review about the Amistad Rebellion a number of points I thought interesting. First, the Denmark Vesey 1822 "supposed uprising" in Charleston is still being debated as to whether it was a "conspiracy in the first place". Second, there was a major difference between African and American slavery.
"...slavery in Mende country (the southern third of Sierra Leone) was typically 'paternal and familiar'-a world away from the sweeping cruelties of the American Plantation system". Third, the Supreme Court in 1841 ordered the freeing of the Amistad Africans, however, it may have created an impression of the existence of "legal and illegal forms of slavery" (in the US) which served to support the southern view that "their institution was properly regulated". In fact every southern justice-including Roger Taney of Dred Scott fame-ruled in the majority. Fourth, in 1816 the American Colonization Society was formed to promote the creation of a colony in Liberia for Africans from the US. However, the colony was only meant for northern free blacks not for southern slaves. It seems the ACS in New Haven, Conn favored "black removal" (this may be another case of doing the right thing for the wrong reason).
(Source: "A Peculiar Revolt" by Nicholas Guyatt of the University or York. Review of The Amistad Rebellion by Marcus Rediker. The Nation 11/26/12)
