LAD#2: Zenger Trial

1. Who was John Peter Zenger?
John Peter Zenger was the printer and editor of the New York Weekly Journal, an opposition newspaper to the Governor
William Cosby.

2. What was the controversy over his charges? Talk about Hamilton's defense.
The controversy was that Zenger was charged with seditious libel, which by definition means "
Written or spoken words, pictures, signs, or other forms of communication that tend to defame, discredit, criticize, impugn, embarrass, challenge, or question the government, its policies, or its officials; speech that advocates the overthrow of the government by force or violence or that incites people to change the government by unlawful means." (The Free Dictionary by Farley). The controversy was that in order for it to be libel it had to be false,but it was just offensive and true. Hamilton made an appeal to a jury to judge both the law and the facts, the result was that it was acquitted.

3. What influence did his case have on American governmental tradition?
Its influence on American governmental traditions was the tradition of freedom of press.

4. What is the lasting significance of his trial? Explain.
The lasting significance in his trail was the affirmation of freedom of speech in America. This opened up new ways for ideas to be shard and not get in any real trouble for saying there ideas or opinions.