Scopes Trial: Evolution in Schools

Scopes Trial

What: The Scopes Trial, also known as the Monkey Trial, was a landmark American legal case in 1925 that debated the teaching of evolution in public schools.

When and Where: The trial took place from July 10 to July 21, 1925, in Dayton, Tennessee.

Key Players:

• John T. Scopes: A high school biology teacher who was accused of violating Tennessee's Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools.
• William Jennings Bryan: A former presidential candidate and prosecutor who argued against the teaching of evolution.
• Clarence Darrow: A renowned lawyer who defended Scopes and argued for the teaching of evolution.

The Trial:

• The trial was sparked by Scopes' teaching of evolution from a biology textbook.
• The prosecution, led by Bryan, argued that evolution was contrary to the Bible and therefore should not be taught in public schools.
• The defense, led by Darrow, argued that evolution was a scientific fact and that teachers should be allowed to teach it.
• The trial was highly publicized and attracted national attention.

Outcome:

• Scopes was found guilty and fined $100.
• The trial was seen as a victory for the fundamentalist movement, but it also sparked a national debate about the teaching of evolution in public schools.

Significance:

• The Scopes Trial marked a turning point in the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools.
• It highlighted the tension between religious fundamentalism and scientific inquiry.
• The trial paved the way for future legal battles over the teaching of evolution, including the 1987 Supreme Court case Edwards v. Aguillard, which ruled that creationism is a religious doctrine and cannot be taught in public schools.