Cinque, a kidnapped African sold into slavery in Cuba, leads his fellow captives in a revolt on the slave ship Amistad, only to find himself a prisoner once more, as a group of opponents of slavery, led by ex-President John Quincy Adams, fight for the Africans freedom in court.Cinque leads a revolt on the Amistad , only to be imprisoned again, as the Africans freedom is argued in court.