What was John Peter Zenger famous for?
John Peter Zenger, (born 1697, Germany—died July 28, 1746, New York City), New York printer and journalist whose famous acquittal in a libel suit (1735) established the first important victory for freedom of the press in the English colonies of North America.
What happened to Peter Zenger?
Zenger was acquitted Calling essentially for the exercise of what today would be considered jury nullification, in the case of New York v. John Peter Zenger Hamilton urged jurors to strike down this law as unjust. Jurors ignored the judges’ instructions and acquitted Zenger to the great delight of onlookers.
What are three facts about John Peter Zenger?
John Peter Zenger apprenticed with William Bradford for eight years beginning in 1711, learning the printing trade. He was 14 years old when he began. William Bradford was considered to be one of America’s printing pioneers. In 1719 John Peter Zenger married Mary White.
Who was John Peter Zenger quizlet?
He was a journalist and printer for a newspaper in New York. He was an advocate for the freedom of press in the colonies. One of his newspapers was charged because he wrote a story about the corrupt government.
What was the significance of the John Peter Zenger trial quizlet?
The Zenger trial took place between 1734 and 1735 in New York. It was a libel case against John Peter Zenger. This case established the principal that truthful statements about public officials could not be considered libelous.
When was John Peter Zenger’s trial?
August 4, 1735
After John Peter Zenger had languished in jail for an entire year, his trial began on August 4, 1735 inside a small court room in the New York City Hall.
Why was the jury verdict in the Zenger case important quizlet?
Zenger was found not guilty. The trial was a key step in the development of the freedom of press. John Peter Zenger’s lawyer. He defended Zenger by telling the jury he was telling the truth and he wasn’t lying in any sort of way.
Why was the Zenger case considered important to the role of the press in the United States quizlet?
This court case sparked a breakthrough in the press and democracy. This told people they could have freedom of speech and they won’t be punished for it. This win also showed how court was fair and you need evidence and an actual law to be broken for someone to be punished.
What was the major outcome of the Zenger trial in New York?
On August 4, 1735, a jury acquitted publisher John Peter Zenger of libel charges against New York’s colonial governor, in an early landmark moment for the free press and the American legal system.
What did the prosecution say Zenger did wrong?
In his opening statement, the prosecutor accused Zenger of being “a seditious person.” He said Zenger had printed “a certain false, malicious, seditious, scandalous libel entitled The New York Weekly Journal.” He had done this, said the prosecutor, “to the great disturbance of the peace.” The prosecutor presented …
What was the significance of the trial of John Peter Zenger quizlet?
Zenger published articles critical of British governor William Cosby. He was taken to trial, but found not guilty. The trial set a precedent for freedom of the press in the colonies.
What was the ruling in the John Peter Zenger trial?
John Peter Zenger (October 26, 1697 – July 28, 1746) was a German printer and journalist in New York City. Zenger printed The New York Weekly Journal. He was accused of libel in 1734 by William Cosby, the royal governor of New York, but the jury acquitted Zenger, who became a symbol for freedom of the press.