In 1735, Peter Zenger was tried for libel in the colony of New York. His trial established the

Peter Zenger was prosecuted for publishing criticism of New York’s royal governor. At his 1735 trial, the jury found him not guilty, helping establish the principle that truthful criticism of government should not be punished as libel. This case is remembered as an important step toward freedom of the press, so the correct choice is “freedom of the press.”

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