The Scopes Trial: Evolution vs. Creationism
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Questions and Answers

The Scopes Trial, also known as the '______' Trial, took place in Dayton, Tennessee, in 1925.

Monkey

John Thomas Scopes, a high school ______ teacher, was accused of violating Tennessee's Butler Act.

biology

The prosecution, led by ______ Jennings Bryan, argued that the law was constitutional and that evolution was incompatible with biblical teachings.

William

The trial lasted from ______ 10 to July 21, 1925.

<p>July</p> Signup and view all the answers

Scopes was found guilty and fined $______.

<p>100</p> Signup and view all the answers

The law was eventually repealed in ______.

<p>1967</p> Signup and view all the answers

In 1859, Charles Darwin published 'The Origins of ______,' which introduced the theory of evolution, sparking a debate between science and religion in America.

<p>Species</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Butler Act, passed in 1925, made it unlawful to teach ______ in Tennessee public schools, leading to the trial of John Scopes.

<p>evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

The trial became a spectacle, with journalists, radio broadcasts, and a ______-like atmosphere, as the nation tuned in to hear the latest developments.

<p>carnival</p> Signup and view all the answers

Clarence Darrow, the defense attorney, hoped to use the trial to defend ______, free speech, and academic freedom against fundamentalism.

<p>science</p> Signup and view all the answers

William Jennings Bryan, the prosecution attorney, saw the theory of evolution as an attack on ______.

<p>Christianity</p> Signup and view all the answers

Darrow argued that fundamentalists like Bryan were ushering in a new ______, warring against science, progress, and free speech.

<p>inquisition</p> Signup and view all the answers

The trial ended with Scopes being found guilty of violating the ______ Act, but the verdict was seen as a victory for science and a blow to fundamentalism.

<p>Butler</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 1920s were marked by a ______ economy, a happy-go-lucky city culture, and a new music called jazz, which originated in New Orleans and spread throughout the country.

<p>rip-roaring</p> Signup and view all the answers

The decade saw significant changes, including the rise of ______, automobiles, radios, and a consumer culture, which transformed American culture.

<p>movies</p> Signup and view all the answers

Fundamentalists saw Darwin's theory as a threat to traditional ______, morality, and faith in God, and sought to restrict immigration and combat the perceived dangers of communism.

<p>values</p> Signup and view all the answers

The trial exposed and revealed the conflicts between ______ and urban, science and religion, jazz and Genesis, which continue to shape American society today.

<p>rural</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Background

  • The Scopes Trial, also known as the "Monkey Trial," took place in Dayton, Tennessee, in 1925.
  • The trial was a highly publicized legal case that debated the teaching of evolution in public schools.

The Case

  • John Thomas Scopes, a high school biology teacher, was accused of violating Tennessee's Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools.
  • Scopes was recruited by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to challenge the law.
  • The prosecution, led by William Jennings Bryan, argued that the law was constitutional and that evolution was incompatible with biblical teachings.
  • The defense, led by Clarence Darrow, argued that the law was unconstitutional and that evolution was a scientific fact.

The Trial

  • The trial lasted from July 10 to July 21, 1925.
  • The trial was a media sensation, with reporters from across the country attending.
  • Darrow and Bryan engaged in a series of dramatic exchanges, with Darrow questioning Bryan on the stand about the accuracy of the Bible.

The Verdict

  • Scopes was found guilty and fined $100.
  • The verdict was upheld on appeal, but the law was eventually repealed in 1967.

Legacy

  • The Scopes Trial marked a significant turning point in the debate over evolution and creationism in the United States.
  • The trial highlighted the tension between religious fundamentalism and scientific progress.
  • The trial has been the subject of numerous books, plays, and films, including the famous play and film "Inherit the Wind."

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Test your knowledge of the famous 1925 trial that debated the teaching of evolution in public schools. Learn about the key players, arguments, and outcome of this landmark case.

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