LAD #2: John Peter Zenger

1. Who was John Peter Zenger?

John Peter Zenger was a new yorker who moved from Germany in the early 1700s. He became an apprentice to the impressive William Bradford who was a printer for The New York Gazette. While working for Bradford, the Governer William Cosby accused the interm governer of a controversy which caused Zenger to print a paper in opposition of the new polocies Cosby put in place. When Cosby started to go after the giants in the papers, they formed a opposition paper and hired Zenger as printer and editor. Though the papers were printed for a while, Cosby eventually arrested Zenger.


2. What was the controversy over his charges? Talk about Hamilton's defense.

Zenger was charged with seditious libel, but Hamilton saw that this was not a valid charge. There was controversy over whether or not the allegations were valid. Hamilton argued that the allegations were not valid unless what Zenger wrote was false. By proving everything Zenger wrote was true and using the law to reason with the jury, they decided to deem Zenger not guilty.

3. What influence did his case have on American governmental tradition?

When the jury voted not guilty regarding Zenger's trials it set a standard for future governmental tradition. It not only established that truth could be used as a defense mechanism when arguing libelity, but it also prevented juries and judges of the future from dtermining verdicts in an unfair manner. Hamilton also helped set a precedent of freedom of the press, even when it had not been officially written down.


4. What is the lasting significance of his trial? Explain.

His trail greatly impacted the freedom of what the press was allowed to say, write and publish. Before the trail there were no real precedents set nor laws created about what newspapers could print. There was also the realization the you cannot say that just because it was published meant that it could be enough to convict anyone of any charge.