Standard 8.18 Lesson
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C HAPTER
Chapter 1. Standard 8.18 Lesson
1
Standard 8.18 Lesson
8.18 Describe the impact of the John Peter Zenger trial on the development of the principle of a free press.
(C, P)
The Trial of John Peter Zenger
( Pictured Above: John Peter Zenger became a symbol for the freedom of the press in the young American colonies.
Seen above is a printing of the trial proceedings.)
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Unexpected Verdict: The Trial of John Peter Zenger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab8lPjHIkoI
The Trial of John Peter Zenger
John Peter Zenger became a symbol for the freedom of the press in the young American colonies. Seen above is a
printing of the trial proceedings.
No democracy has existed in the modern world without the existence of a free press. Newspapers and pamphlets
allow for the exchange of ideas and for the voicing of dissent. When a corrupt government holds power, the press
becomes a critical weapon. It organizes opposition and can help revolutionary ideas spread. The trial of John Peter
Zenger, a New York printer, was an important step toward this most precious freedom for American colonists.
John Peter Zenger was a German immigrant who printed a publication called The New York Weekly Journal.
This publication harshly pointed out the actions of the corrupt royal governor, William S. Cosby. It accused the
government of rigging elections and allowing the French enemy to explore New York harbor. It accused the governor
of an assortment of crimes and basically labeled him an idiot. Although Zenger merely printed the articles, he was
hauled into jail. The authors were anonymous, and Zenger would not name them.
In 1733, Zenger was accused of libel, a legal term whose meaning is quite different for us today than it was for
him. In his day it was libel when you published information that was opposed to the government. Truth or falsity
were irrelevant. He never denied printing the pieces. The judge therefore felt that the verdict was never in question.
Something very surprising happened, however.
The first jury was packed with individuals on Cosby’s payroll. Throughout this process, Zenger’s wife Anna kept
the presses rolling. Her reports resulted in replacing Cosby’s jury with a true jury of Zenger’s peers.
When the trial began and Zenger’s new attorney began his defense, a stir fluttered through the courtroom. The most
famous lawyer in the colonies, Andrew Hamilton of Philadelphia, stepped up to defend Zenger. Hamilton admitted
that Zenger printed the charges and demanded the prosecution to prove them false. In a stirring appeal to the jury,
Hamilton pleaded for his new client’s release. "It is not the cause of one poor printer," he claimed, "but the cause of
liberty." The judge ordered the jury to convict Zenger if they believed he printed the stories. But the jury returned in
less than ten minutes with a verdict of not guilty.
Cheers filled the courtroom and soon spread throughout the countryside. Zenger and Hamilton were hailed as heroes.
Another building block of liberty was in place. Although true freedom of the press was not known until the passage
of the First Amendment, newspaper publishers felt freer to print their honest views. As the American Revolution
approached, this freedom would become ever more vital.
John Peter ZengerHere is a very nice summary of the Zenger case in readable fashion. This page was adapted from
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Chapter 1. Standard 8.18 Lesson
a speech given during Banned Books Week. No pictures. Peter Zenger and Freedom of the PressThis illustrated
essay from the Archiving Early America website tells the story of Zenger’s public criticism of Governor Cosby and
his subsequent trial and acquittal. The Acquittal of John Peter Zenger The Zenger story as told by a site devoted
to press coverage of events in American history. A few interesting facts about Zenger’s paper, the New York Weekly
Journal,but not much more.
The international community must be vigilant in its defence of a free and independent press, which advanced the
cause of human rights, good governance and development among all peoples -UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
during the observance of 1998 World Press Freedom Day. Learn More...
Read the following article and complete the activities.
http://apushchapter0304.wikispaces.com/file/view/Constitutional%20Rights%20Foundation%20Article%20on%20Z
enger.pdf/353782912/Constitutional%20Rights%20Foundation%20Article%20on%20Zenger.pdf
Ok...Ok...Ok!!!! This is in black and white...but hey, this is a history lesson!
and watch this video about John Peter Zenger!!
Go back in time, literally :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phbdZKT-zI
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