Scopes “Monkey” TrialScopes “Monkey” TrialClash over EvolutionClash over Evolution

During the 1920s, in response to During the 1920s, in response to the the Lost GenerationsLost Generations “wild” “wild”

behavior, such as provocative behavior, such as provocative dancing (Charleston), “wild” music dancing (Charleston), “wild” music

(Jazz), “wild” women (flappers), (Jazz), “wild” women (flappers), Conservative America looked to Conservative America looked to fundamentalismfundamentalism of the Bible. of the Bible.

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The defenders of traditional The defenders of traditional religion looked to the Bible for religion looked to the Bible for

support in the struggle against this support in the struggle against this new wild atmosphere of the new wild atmosphere of the

Twenties.Twenties.

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FundamentalismFundamentalism is the idea that is the idea that religious texts and beliefs should be religious texts and beliefs should be

taken literally and treated as the taken literally and treated as the authority on appropriate behavior.authority on appropriate behavior.

ProhibitionProhibition emerges as one emerges as one example of America’s example of America’s fundamentalist pursuit to correct fundamentalist pursuit to correct society.society.

Prohibition, by the Prohibition, by the 1818thth AmendmentAmendment, makes the drinking, , makes the drinking, possession, or distribution of possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages illegal.alcoholic beverages illegal.

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In 1925, the Tennessee Legislature In 1925, the Tennessee Legislature passed a law making it illegal for a passed a law making it illegal for a public schools “to teach any theory public schools “to teach any theory

that denies the story of Divine that denies the story of Divine Creation of man as taught in the Creation of man as taught in the

Bible.”Bible.”

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In an effort to “show how foolish In an effort to “show how foolish the law was,” a young science the law was,” a young science teacher, teacher, John ScopesJohn Scopes, teaches a , teaches a lesson on Evolution.lesson on Evolution.

The stage was set for a dramatic The stage was set for a dramatic showdown between modernists and showdown between modernists and traditionalists traditionalists over the place of over the place of science and religion in public science and religion in public schoolsschools..

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John Scopes

ModernistsModernists looked to science, not looked to science, not the Bible, to explain how the the Bible, to explain how the physical world worked.physical world worked.

Scientists accepted as true only Scientists accepted as true only facts and theories that could be facts and theories that could be tested and supported with tested and supported with evidence.evidence.

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Theory of EvolutionTheory of Evolution

British naturalist British naturalist Charles Darwin Charles Darwin theorized that all plants and theorized that all plants and

animals, including humans, had animals, including humans, had evolved from simpler forms of life.evolved from simpler forms of life.

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Darwin believed that evolution of Darwin believed that evolution of one species from another took one species from another took place over thousands or millions of place over thousands or millions of years.years.

It worked through a process he It worked through a process he called “called “natural selectionnatural selection” or ” or ““survival of the fittestsurvival of the fittest.”.”

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During During natural selectionnatural selection, species , species that make favorable adaptations to that make favorable adaptations to their environment are more likely their environment are more likely to survive than those that do not.to survive than those that do not.

In such a way, Darwin argued, In such a way, Darwin argued, human beings had human beings had evolvedevolved from from apes.apes.

Characterization ofCharles Darwin as an ape.

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Modernists embraced the concepts Modernists embraced the concepts of evolution and natural selection.of evolution and natural selection.

Rather than choosing between Rather than choosing between science and religion, they believed science and religion, they believed that both could coexist.that both could coexist.

By the 1920s, the theory of evolution By the 1920s, the theory of evolution was regularly taught in schools.was regularly taught in schools.

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Fundamentalists believed the Bible Fundamentalists believed the Bible was the was the literalliteral word of God. word of God.

They rejected the theory of They rejected the theory of evolution because it conflicted with evolution because it conflicted with creationismcreationism, the belief that God , the belief that God created the universe as described created the universe as described in the Bible.in the Bible.

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During the 1920s, fundamentalists During the 1920s, fundamentalists campaigned to ban the teaching of campaigned to ban the teaching of evolution in public schools.evolution in public schools.

They found their voice in They found their voice in William William Jennings BryanJennings Bryan..

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William Jennings Bryan had played a William Jennings Bryan had played a major role in American politics for major role in American politics for 30 years. He had run for president 30 years. He had run for president (Democrat & Populist) 3 times and (Democrat & Populist) 3 times and

served in President Wilson’s served in President Wilson’s cabinet.cabinet.

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Tennessee became the first state to Tennessee became the first state to ban the teaching of evolution in ban the teaching of evolution in public schools. public schools.

Scopes believed that he cannot Scopes believed that he cannot teach biology without teaching teach biology without teaching evolution.evolution.

Scopes is Scopes is arrestedarrested for teaching the for teaching the theory of evolution. theory of evolution.

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The Scopes trial began on July 10, The Scopes trial began on July 10, 1925, bringing far more attention 1925, bringing far more attention than both sides had expected.than both sides had expected.

Some 200 national reporters Some 200 national reporters arrived in Dayton, Tennessee.arrived in Dayton, Tennessee.

Tourists and vendors (selling toy Tourists and vendors (selling toy monkeys) descend on Dayton’s monkeys) descend on Dayton’s “circus” atmosphere.“circus” atmosphere.

National Reporters followthe story closely. The nationis engrossed by the story.

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Bryan vs. DarrowBryan vs. Darrow William Jennings Bryan agrees to William Jennings Bryan agrees to

represent the State of Tennessee represent the State of Tennessee with its prosecution of John with its prosecution of John Scopes.Scopes.

High-powered lawyer High-powered lawyer Clarence Clarence DarrowDarrow offers to defend Scopes offers to defend Scopes free of charge.free of charge.

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Darrow & Bryan taking a break during the trial.

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Clarence DarrowClarence Darrow

Darrow had supported Bryan for Darrow had supported Bryan for president (they were friends), but president (they were friends), but he disagreed with him about he disagreed with him about religion.religion.

Darrow had enjoyed a reputation of Darrow had enjoyed a reputation of defending American labor and WWI defending American labor and WWI War protestors.War protestors.

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In their opening statements, the In their opening statements, the opposing lawyers recognized that opposing lawyers recognized that what was on trial was the Bible and what was on trial was the Bible and the the Theory of EvolutionTheory of Evolution, not the , not the law.law.

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““If evolution wins, Christianity If evolution wins, Christianity goes,”goes,”

- warned William Jennings - warned William Jennings BryanBryan

““Scopes isn’t on trial:Scopes isn’t on trial: civilization is on trial” civilization is on trial”

- - argued Clarence Darrowargued Clarence Darrow

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After listening to only one of After listening to only one of Darrow’s defensive experts, the Darrow’s defensive experts, the

judge refuses to let his remaining judge refuses to let his remaining experts testify.experts testify.

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http://www.antievolution.org/topics/law/scopes

For a moment, it looked like For a moment, it looked like Darrow had no defense. Then he Darrow had no defense. Then he

surprised everyone by calling surprised everyone by calling Bryan to the stand as an expert on Bryan to the stand as an expert on

the Bible.the Bible.

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““Do you claim that Do you claim that everything in the Bible should everything in the Bible should

be literally interpreted?”be literally interpreted?” – – Darrow asked BryanDarrow asked Bryan

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““I believe everything in the I believe everything in the Bible should be accepted as it is Bible should be accepted as it is

given there.”given there.”- William Jennings Bryan- William Jennings Bryan

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““I do not think it means I do not think it means necessarily a twenty-four-hour necessarily a twenty-four-hour

day,” creation, he added, “might day,” creation, he added, “might have continued for millions of have continued for millions of

years.”years.”

However, when asked if Earth had been created in six days, Bryan answered,

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Darrow had tricked Bryan, into Darrow had tricked Bryan, into admitting that he himself did not admitting that he himself did not always interpret each and every always interpret each and every word in the Bible as the literal word in the Bible as the literal

truth.truth.

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When the trial ended, it took the When the trial ended, it took the jury fewer than 10 minutes to find jury fewer than 10 minutes to find Scopes guilty.Scopes guilty.

The judge fined John Scopes only The judge fined John Scopes only $100 for breaking the Tennessee $100 for breaking the Tennessee law.law.

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Victory in DefeatVictory in Defeat Although, John Scopes had been Although, John Scopes had been

found guilty by the judge, it was found guilty by the judge, it was believed to be a huge victory for believed to be a huge victory for

science.science.

Scopes “Monkey” Trial Courtroom

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A year later, the Tennessee A year later, the Tennessee Supreme Court overturned the Supreme Court overturned the

conviction because the judge, not conviction because the judge, not the jury, had imposed the fine.the jury, had imposed the fine.

The Scopes trial did not end the The Scopes trial did not end the debate over teaching evolution in debate over teaching evolution in public schools.public schools.

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Inherit the WindInherit the WindSuggested Reading and MovieSuggested Reading and Movie

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