LAD #2: John Peter Zenger

      1. Who was John Peter Zenger?
 A publisher of a newspaper in 1733 that opposed the policies of William Cosby, a recently appointed governor of New York. 

      2. What was the controversy over his charges? Talk about Hamilton's defense.
 Cosby stated what Zenger published in his newspaper as, "divers scandalous, virulent, false and seditious reflections." He had him arrested and Zenger spent eight months in jail, charged with "seditious libel." Hamilton defended him later in court, proving that even if a statement was considered "seditious libel," if it could be proved the statement was not actually libel. The jury later responded with a verdict of not guilty.


      3. What influence did his case have on American governmental tradition?
This case further established the concept of free speech and freedom of the press, in which a person cannot be prosecuted for publishing defamatory articles.

      4. What is the lasting significance of his trial? Explain.
The lasting significance would be the fact that we have freedom of press in today's society. If Zenger and Hamilton had lost the trial, then perhaps criticisms of the government that we see so often today would be oppressed as it is in many totalitarian states.