John Peter Zenger

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the case of John Peter Zenger in 1734. It briefly describes the background of Zenger and of the case that was brought against him. The paper looks at whether the jury decision produced an across-the-board new American policy of freedom of the press such as did not exist before Zenger's arrest. The paper also looks at whether the case had a meaningful effect on the U.S. Constitution.

From the Paper:

"At that time in American history, there had been political satires printed often, but they were published by "imperial officials themselves," and not by writers and political opponents. But between the time of the Zenger trial and the Stamp Act, Olsen continues, several fables, satires, "parodied speeches and proclamations" appeared in pamphlets, advertisements, poets' corners and news items, "virtually all of them in opposition to established governments and imperial officials." Of all of those dozens of printed protests and attacks on the persons in elected positions, there was only one, Olsen explains, who was prosecuted for libel, but in time the charges were also dropped against him."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Buranelli, Vincent. "Peter Zenger's Editor." American Quarterly 7.2 (1955): 174-181.
• Eldridge, Larry D. "Before Zenger: Truth and Seditious Speech in Colonial America, 1607-1700. The American Journal of Legal History 39.3 (1995): 337-358.
• Olson, Alison. "The Zenger Case Revisited." Early American Literature 35.3 (2000): 223-246.
• Sutherland, Arthur E. "A Brief narrative of the Case and Trial of John Peter Zenger." Harvard Law Review Vol. 77 (1964): 787-790.

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