the scopes “monkey” trial

The Scopes “Monkey” Trial• Cities drew thousands from farms & small towns• Those who stayed rural areas often feared that new ways of life in

the city were a threat to traditional values• Darwin’s Theory of Evolution: Charles Darwin – British scientist,

had claimed that all life had evolved, or developed, from simpler forms over a long period of time

VS

• Some churches condemned his theory, saying it denied teachings in the Bible

• Some states banned the teachings of his theory• 1925- John Scopes (biology teacher in Dayton) taught

evolution to his class.

Scopes was arrested & brought to trial– William Jennings Bryan (who had run for president) spoke for

the state against Scopes– Clarence Darrow (Chicago lawyer known for helping unions &

radicals) defended Scopes• Scopes was convicted & fined• Laws against teaching evolution remain on the books,

though they are rarely enforced

1915 the KKK begins to crop up again• Originally, the clan had used terror to keep African

Americans from voting after the Civil War• New Klan’s aim: to preserve the U.S. for white,

native-born Protestants

KKK

– Waged a campaign against blacks, immigrants, Catholics & Jews– Burned crosses outside of people’s homes– Whippings & lynchings to terrorize immigrants & blacks– Strongly supported efforts to limit immigration– Such a large membership = gained political influence

Racial Tensions in the North• African Americans had hoped that their efforts abroad in

WW1 would weaken racism at home• Returning black soldiers found the South was still

segregated & racism was big in the North• African Americans moved north during & after the war

African Americans moved north during

& after the war

– Factory jobs in cities– Often the only jobs were low-paying ones– Whites refused to rent apartments to blacks– Northern white homeowners & workers felt threatened by the

arrival of so many African Americans– Racial tension grew– 8 months after WW1, race riots broke out in several cities

• The worst: Chicago, leaving 38 dead

Marcus Garvey

• African Americans were shocked by the racism they found & looked for new ways to cope

• Marcus Garvey: one of the most popular black leaders of the 1920s who started the first widespread Black Nationalist movement in the U.S.– Organized the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA):

intended to promote unity & pride among African Americans

Believed blacks needed to rely on themselves rather than whites to get ahead

“Back to Africa Movement”: Garvey urged African Americans to seek their roots in Africa to regain racial pride

Election of 1928• By 1928 Republicans had led the nation for 8 years• They pointed to their prosperity as their outstanding

achievement• Herbert Hoover wins the Republican nomination (against

Alfred Smith (D))

Election of 1928• Hoover was a self-made

millionaire from the Midwest– Won votes from rural

Americans & big business alike– American hoped Hoover

would keep the country prosperous

– Less than a year after he becomes president, the economy would come crashing down