What Are The Immediate Effects Of The Zenger Trial

All of the colonies, except for Georgia, were well established by the beginning of the eighteenth century. The early 1700s was thus a time of colonial growth. Colleges were founded, new achievements in the arts and sciences occurred, and the colonies experienced many events that would influence their history. Many of the developments of the era before the Seven Years War failed to result in actual change. The Zenger Trial is considered a major influence of the Bill of Rights and democracy in the post-Revolution era, but the only immediate effect was to promote riskier criticism of the government in the press. Similarly, the Enlightenment began in the early 18th century and Enlightenment ideas were certainly circulating in the colonies. However,

Libel is a false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation. Under English law, an act of intentional damage to a government official’s reputation was considered criminal, regardless of the validity of the statement. Zenger’s attorney, Andrew Hamilton, however, defended his client’s plea of not guilty by maintaining that Zenger had published the truth about the governor. The jury proclaimed Zenger innocent. While no official legal changes concerning libel or freedom of the press were made as a result of the case, it did change colonial opinion about the press. An immediate effect was more common and harsh criticism of the British and colonial governments by newspapers. Zenger and Hamilton’s triumph over the royal government of New York through the case demonstrated the power of colonial law and encouraged more honest opinions in the press. This was particularly important in the 1760s and 70s as the colonists expressed their dissatisfaction with the taxes and the government through the press. The case also led, eventually, to the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, which protects freedom of the press. Freedom of the press is a vital part of democracy, as democracies allow for discussion and give all people the right to debate. Without freedom of the press discussions cannot reach a wider audience, debate is obstructed,

The Enlightenment was a European movement that emphasized reason and respect for humanity. Enlightenment thinkers thought reason could solve humanity’s problems and the literature created by these Europeans greatly influenced educated Americans, including founding fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Much of Enlightenment thought surrounded politics and how a proper political system should be structured. John Locke was an Englishman would argued that the state was obligated to grant natural, human rights to the people it governed. He wrote in his Two Treatises on Government that these rights included “life, liberty, and property.” Thomas Jefferson was clearly familiar with Locke’s work when drafting the Declaration of Independence where he stated that Americans had the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The Enlightenment influenced colonists to think rationally about their government, realize what was lacking, and work to change it. John Locke also stated that citizens had the obligation to revolt if their government did not protect their rights. Enlightenment ideas did not result in any real change in the years before the Seven Years War but they were consumed and discussed by colonists who would use them in the years to