Why did think the Amistad case carry so much weight in America at this time? This question relates to the Amistad case from the movie and in general....

The
Amistad mutiny carried particular weight for at least a few reasons.  First, there was existing
tension around the issue of slavery in the United States because the Abolitionist Movement had
already begun.  Second, John Quincy Adams lent his name and his support to the cause of the
Africans, generating a great deal more publicity than they might otherwise have...