Wednesday 1/16/13
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Transcript of Wednesday 1/16/13
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Wednesday 1/16/13Day Planner: Cornell Notes, DocsTeachBell Work: What was the Proclamation of 1763? And how do you think this would cause people to revolt?
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Freedom of the Press
The Trial of John Peter Zenger1735
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John Peter Zenger
- Printer - Worked for the New York Weekly
Journal
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Seditious LibelZenger printed articles that criticized New York Governor Crosby for rigging elections and helping the French
Governor Crosby had Zenger arrested for “seditious libel”
Arrested November 17, 1734 – unable to make bail
Trial begins July 29, 1735sedition
libel In Zinger’s time this meantpublishing negative informationabout the government
Resistance to legal authority
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ArgumentsProsecution:
Zenger “wickedly and maliciously” printed articles against the governor and his ministersChallenge to British royal law
Zenger’s Defense: Andrew Hamilton argued directly to the jury - that truth must determine if what was written about the governor was or was not libelous
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Zenger's lawyer - Andrew Hamilton - agrues:
The law is wrong – not what Zenger printed:“It is not the cause of one poor printer… but the cause of liberty!”
Andrew Hamilton
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The question is…
Should the government have thepower to silence criticism that maylikely “harm” that government?
Should citizens be allowed to freely express their thinking inall circumstances?
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The judge informsthe jury that the law does not permit “what Zenger printed is the truth” as a defense.
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What do you think happened?
The judge ordered the jury to convict Zenger if
they believed he printed the criticism.
Ten minutes later the jury returned…
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Truth Wins!Zenger is acquittedAs the American Revolution develops, this trial decision becomes vital to the Patriots
It is a first step toward Freedom of the Press
Bill of Rights 1786
“Our liberty depends upon the freedom of the press
and that cannot be limited without being lost.”
Thomas Jefferson
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First Amendment - 1791
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the fee exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Thank you John Peter Zenger!