Changes

== The Zenger Trial ==

== The Zenger Trial ==

Freedom began to cause problems in the colony of New York when the governor disliked criticism that appeared in the newspaper.  [[John Peter Zenger]] printed something unkind about the governor, and the governor decided to silence him by charging him with "seditious libel."  He demanded that Zenger be prosecuted and thrown in jail for criticizing him.   

Freedom began to cause problems in the colony of New York when the governor disliked criticism that appeared in the newspaper.  [[John Peter Zenger]] printed something embarrassing about the governor, and the governor decided to silence him by charging him with "seditious libel."  He demanded that Zenger be prosecuted and thrown in jail for criticizing him.   

Zenger was then put on trial in 1735.  On the first day of the trial, Andrew Hamilton of Philadelphia, one of the best known attorneys in colonies, surprisingly showed up and agreed to defend Zenger for free.  Hamilton argued that it should not be a crime to print something that is true, even though it may embarrass the governor.  In other words, Zenger's attorney thought that someone should have a right to tell the truth, no matter how embarrassing it may be. It also established that truth is a perfect defense against a charge of libel.

Zenger was then put on trial in 1735.  On the first day of the trial, Andrew Hamilton of Philadelphia, one of the best known attorneys in colonies, surprisingly showed up and agreed to defend Zenger for free.  Hamilton argued that it should not be a crime to print something that is true, even though it may embarrass the governor.  In other words, Zenger's attorney thought that someone should have a right to tell the truth, no matter how embarrassing it may be. It also established that truth is a perfect defense against a charge of libel.