Lewis Tappan (1788 - 1863) was a New York abolitionist who was most responsible in making sure the Africans of the Amistad had their freedom again. Contacted by Connecticut abolitionists soon after the Amistad arrived in its port, Tappan focused extensively on the captive Africans. He was one of the biggest supporters who acquired high quality legal representation for the captives which allowed them to be set free eventually. Lewis with his brother Arthur not only got the Africans legal help, acquittal, but also managed, increased public support, and finally organized the return home for the captive Africans. 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... “NY” redirects here. ... This article is about the abolition of slavery. ... World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second_largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... La Amistad, a 19th century Spanish schooner The Amistad, a 1841 United States court case concerning a slave rebellion on that ship. ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Largest metro area Hartford Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,543[2] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km)  - % water 12. ...

Both Tappan Brothers were strict Calvinists and uncompromising moralists with views that many even in the abolitionist movement found to be extreme. One example of his revolutionary view, was the fact that Tappan advocated intermarriage as the long range solution to racial issues. He dreamed of a “copper skinned” America where race would not define any man, woman, or child. Tappan’s depiction of the arrival of the Amistad on the American shores is as he thought, a “providential occurrence” might allow “the heart of the nation” to be “touched by the power of sympathy”. In an unadorned church, the 17th century congregation stands to hear the sermon. ... Intermarriage normally refers to marriage between people belonging to different religions, tribes, nationalities or ethnic backgrounds. ... For other uses, see Race (disambiguation). ...

Tappan attended each day of the Amistad trials and wrote daily accounts of the proceedings for the Emancipator. The Emancipator was a New England abolitionist paper that Tappan wrote in frequently in the nineteenth century. After achieving legal victory in the Supreme Court, Tappan began plans to use the Amistad Africans as the foundation for his dream to Christianize Africa. The historical phenomenon of Christianization, the conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once (a political shift as much as a spontaneous mass shift in individual consciences), also includes the practice of converting pagan cult practices, pagan religious imagery, pagan sites and the pagan calendar...

External link

• PBS entry