First Big Win for the Press

Select the letter of the correct answer.

The Article primarily discusses __________.

• 1730s court case that challenged the seditious libel law and focused on the issue of freedom of the press

• British colonial Governor William Cosby, whom John Peter Zenger accused of rigging elections and other assorted crimes

• the history of the New York Weekly Journal, which was circulated in both the United States and England

• the career of Andrew Hamilton, an unsurpassed lawyer whose crowning achievement was John Peter Zenger's trial

Which question is not answered by the Article?

• How many other newspapers were charged with seditious libel in the 1700s?

• What did the First Amendment allow for when it was ratified in 1791?

• How did Governor Cosby react to John Peter Zenger's criticisms of him?

• What argument did Andrew Hamilton make against the seditious libel law?

This Article would be most useful as a source for a student research project on __________.

• the history of the First Amendment

• the roles and responsibilities of lawyers

• the history of colonial newspapers

• the roles and responsibilities of journalists

Read this passage from the Article:

In 1791, when the First Amendment was ratified, it allowed for a free press. That protects the right of the press to report news and opinions without censorship, empowering Americans with the knowledge to hold their leaders accountable.

Which is the closest synonym for the word censorship?

• restriction

• subscription

• rebellion

• testimony

According to the Article, how were the seditious libel law and the First Amendment different?

• The seditious libel law established freedom of the press, while the First Amendment prevented the press from criticizing the government.

• The seditious libel law empowered the press to hold leaders accountable, while the First Amendment gave that responsibility to the people.

• The seditious libel law empowered the people to hold leaders accountable, while the First Amendment gave that responsibility to the press.

• The seditious libel law prevented the press from criticizing the government, while the First Amendment established freedom of the press.

Which of these is a statement of opinion?

• John Peter Zenger should get more credit for helping to establish America's freedom of the press.

• In the 1730s, it was illegal to publish anything that criticized the government, even if the criticism was true.

• John Peter Zenger published his account of his seditious libel trial in the New York Weekly Journal.

• Andrew Hamilton argued in court that seditious libel should not be against the law.

The author probably wrote this Article in order to __________.

• provide details about how Governor William Cosby rigged government elections in his favor

• explain one of the key events that led to the establishment of a free press in the First Amendment

• argue that the establishment of a free press is the only way to oppose tyrannical power

• demonstrate that Andrew Hamilton was one of the smartest lawyers in colonial America

Which is the closest synonym for the word unsurpassed?

• inferior

• veteran

• unequaled

• valiant