17 Questions
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.
July
Scopes was found guilty and fined $______.
100
The law was eventually repealed in ______.
1967
In 1859, Charles Darwin published 'The Origins of ______,' which introduced the theory of evolution, sparking a debate between science and religion in America.
Species
The Butler Act, passed in 1925, made it unlawful to teach ______ in Tennessee public schools, leading to the trial of John Scopes.
evolution
The trial became a spectacle, with journalists, radio broadcasts, and a ______-like atmosphere, as the nation tuned in to hear the latest developments.
carnival
Clarence Darrow, the defense attorney, hoped to use the trial to defend ______, free speech, and academic freedom against fundamentalism.
science
William Jennings Bryan, the prosecution attorney, saw the theory of evolution as an attack on ______.
Christianity
Darrow argued that fundamentalists like Bryan were ushering in a new ______, warring against science, progress, and free speech.
inquisition
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.
Butler
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.
rip-roaring
The decade saw significant changes, including the rise of ______, automobiles, radios, and a consumer culture, which transformed American culture.
movies
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.
values
The trial exposed and revealed the conflicts between ______ and urban, science and religion, jazz and Genesis, which continue to shape American society today.
rural
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."
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.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
