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Then, in 1837, a horrific murder demonstrated that the continued existence of slavery threatened the constitutional rights of free speech and freedom of the press.  Elijah Lovejoy, an antislavery newspaper publisher, was murdered in Alton, Illinois by a pro-slavery mob that had crossed the river from the slave state of Missouri.  Lovejoy thereby became the first white martyr for abolitionist movement.

Then, in 1837, a horrific murder demonstrated that the continued existence of slavery threatened the constitutional rights of free speech and freedom of the press.  Elijah Lovejoy, an antislavery newspaper publisher, was murdered in Alton, Illinois by a pro-slavery mob that had crossed the river from the slave state of Missouri.  Lovejoy thereby became the first white martyr for abolitionist movement.

In 1841, the former President John Quincy Adams represented slaves who were being prosecuted for unlawfully taking control of a Spanish ship and killing its captain and crew (the serious crime of mutiny).  The slaves ended up in the United States.  Under President Martin Van Buren, the United Stated Department of Justice sought to deport these slaves to Cuba, where they would likely have been executed by the Spanish controlling that island.  Adams argued that the slaves should be freed in the United States, even though they were not American citizens, because the U.S. had prohibited the slave trade by this time.  The Supreme Court held in favor of the slaves and John Qunicy Adams in ''United States v. The Amistad Africans''.  The slaves were freed and welcomed by a community in Connecticut.

In 1841, the former President John Quincy Adams represented slaves who were being prosecuted for unlawfully taking control of a Spanish ship and killing its captain and crew (the serious crime of mutiny).  The slaves ended up in the United States.  Under President Martin Van Buren, the United Stated Department of Justice sought to deport these slaves to Cuba, where they would likely have been executed by the Spanish controlling that island.  Adams argued that the slaves should be freed in the United States, even though they were not American citizens, because the U.S. had prohibited the slave trade by this time.  The Supreme Court held in favor of the slaves and John Quincy Adams in ''United States v. The Amistad Africans''.  The slaves were freed and welcomed by a community in Connecticut.

== Other Developments 1800-1840 ==

== Other Developments 1800-1840 ==