Teaching American History and the Movie Amistad (1997)

If you wish to understand the causes of the Civil War and the development that led to the Emancipation Proclamation, it is imperative to understand the role of slavery in the United States in the 19th century. One possible way of preparing students for this episode in American history is by viewing a movie that deals with the topic of slavery both from an emotional and a legal viewpoint. The movie Amistad offers both.