John Peter Zenger's libel trial

A) resulted from his publication of news stories questioning the intelligence of the king.
B) probably would not have ended in his acquittal if he had attacked the assembly rather than the governor.
C) set back freedom of the press when it ended in his conviction and imprisonment for printing the truth.
D) showed that the public was not yet ready to accept the idea of freedom of speech.
E) led to the overturning of the Licentiousness Act of 1694.

John Peter Zenger's libel trial was based on his publication of articles attacking the governor of New York. If he had attacked the assembly, he would not have been acquitted. While his conviction and imprisonment were initially seen as a setback for freedom of the press, the trial ultimately established the principle that truth could be a defense against charges of libel, and it helped pave the way for greater freedom of expression in the future. The Licentiousness Act of 1694 was not directly related to Zenger's trial, and it was not overturned as a result.