John Peter Zenger was a editor for the New York weekly journal. he arrived in the then colony of New York in 1710 from Germany at had a apprenticeship at the New York Gazette with William Bradford. He also printed articles that criticized the colonial Governor William Crosby who then later arrested him for his publications.
2.) What was the controversy over his charges?
Andrew Hamilton, Zenger's Lawyer stated that while Zenger had took part in the publishing of the articles that ridiculed the governor, he also said that the stories were just attempts to bad-mouth the official unless they were proved otherwise. although Zenger had already been convicted. Hamilton was able to appeal to the jury to take into account the law and the facts, and was able to get Zenger acquitted.
3.) What influence did his case have on American governmental traditions?
The trial involved the use of the truth as a defense to help Zenger from being convicted of slander. Hamilton's defense also became an example to be a following in similar trials that opposed tyranny in the colonial governments.
4.) What is the lasting significance of his trial?
Freedom of the press was a big idea that came from Zenger's trial and helped set the policy into action throughout the policy. "freedom of the press" was a big result of Hamilton's defense, in which claimed that a single statement is not a lie unless proven otherwise.
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