The Zenger Trial
"The Germ of American Freedom"
John Peter Zenger
-printer (publisher) of New York Weekly Journal (New York Gazette)
What Happened
Accusations From Royal Governor William S. Cosby
-Cosby accuses them of seditious libel
-Zenger, the publisher, was blamed.
-He refused to give up the names of the authors of the articles (who were anonymous)
-no publisher=no paper
Seditious Libel
translation
saying bad things about a political figure
Things Cosby was Criticized of
- rigging elections
- allowing the French into the harbor
- assortment of crimes and stupidity
Cosby Strikes
Cosby Uses Censorship
- hangman did not
Cosby Uses an Information
Cosby Uses Allies
- Chief Judge James De Lancey
- Justice Frederick Phillipse
The Arrest of John Peter Zenger
- taken to New York's Old City Jail
Wednesday, Nov 17, 1734, 12:00 AM
New York, NY, United States
-Hamilton
source: constitution.org/primarysources/zenger.html
Zenger's Attorneys Help
- James Alexander and William Smith
Habeas Corpus:
legal action where people in jail awaiting trial are brought before a judge because of unlawful imprisonmentZenger's Hearing
Zenger returns to jail
Wednesday, Nov 17, 1734, 12:00 AM
New York, NY, United States
Zenger's Arraignment
The judges were challenged because of their ties to Cosby
A judge that wasn't an ally to Cosby had been removed in 1733
New Legal Representations
April 16, 1735
New lawyer is John Chambers
Chambers Helps
Challenges biased jury to keep it fair
Aided in court by Andrew Hamilton
Zenger Wins!
Zenger found not guilty
Released from prison the day after he was found not guilty
Returns to his printingPublishes trial account
The Impact
"It is the cause of liberty"
Which is one of the rights marked in later constitutions, documents of rights, etc.
-Led printers to feel freer to print harsher views
What Hamilton Said
source: constitution.org/primarysources/zenger.html
However
It took a long time for these rights to develop in the colonies
-free press wasn't set completely until the first amendment was created.
Fun Facts
-The jury returned in less than 10 minutes with the not guilty verdict
Sources
-constitution.org/primarysoures/zenger.html
-"Crown v. John Peter Zenger" article
-u-s-history.com
-earlyamerica.com
-kids.britannica.com
-revolutionsincommunication.com
-city-journal.org
-nps.gov