The+Scopes+Monkey+Trial

Dan Aschermann Adrian Bahena

//__The Scopes "Monkey" Trial__// In the 1920's, many new ideas and beliefs were introduced while old beliefs/ideas were being abandoned. In 1859, Charles Darwin presented his Theory of Evolution in his book //On the Orgin Of Species//. His theory claimed that every being changes over time through natural selection. The introduction of the theory of evoultion would challenge the belief of God. In 1925, Tennessee passed the Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching that man evolved over time.


 * In 1925, a High school teacher in the small town of Dayton, Tennessee named John T. Scopes was charged for violating the Butler Act.


 * **The Butler Act** stated that it was illegal to teach any theory that [[image:scopestrial.jpg width="216" height="235" align="right"]]denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.


 * This case featured two of the nations most powerful names in the time: William Jennings Bryan represented the prosecution and Clarence Darrow spoke for the defense.
 * Throughout the case, Darrow focused on the charges being dropped due to The Butler Act being unconstitutional. When that did not happen, he chose to question experts on both evolution and biblical theories.
 * One controversial element of the case was when Darrow questioned Bryan on his knowledge of the Bible and to test his faith. This is one portion of his testimony:

Darrow: "Do you think [days in the Bible] were literal days?" Bryan: "My impression is they were periods." Darrow: "Have you any idea of the length of the periods?" Bryan: "No. I don't." Darrow: "If you call those periods, they may have been a very long time?" Bryan: "They might have been." Darrow: "The Creation might have been going on for a very long time." Bryan: "It might have continued for millions of years." //Testimony of William Jennings Bryan, July 20, 1925//
 * This paticular statement stunned the crowd because it betrayed fundamentalist thinking.
 * A fundamentalist believes every single word stated in the Bible is absolutely true.


 * It was expected, even by Darrow, that Scopes would be found guilty. However, the case had long lasting consequences that effect our education today. It was not until the 1960's that the Supreme Court would adress the issues of religious freedom and anti-evolution laws.

The end result of this trial caused schools to ban the teaching of evolution for almost three decades, but publicized the idea. This case also led to new legal challenges which showed that laws such as the Butler Act were unconstitutional.

TIMELINE: May 7: Warrant against John Scopes issued. July 10: Scopes Trial begins. July 21: Jury fines Scopes guilty. July 26: Bryan dies in Dayton.
 * 1859-** //On the Origin of Species// by Charles Darwin is published.
 * 1925-** March 21: Butler Act is signed into law in Tennessee.
 * 1926-** January: Scopes Defense team appeals.
 * 1927-** Tennessee Supreme Court reverses Scopes Convivtion.
 * 1955-** //Inherit the Wind,// a play about the Scopes Trial opens in New York.
 * 1967-** Tennessee overturns the Butler Act.

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