The Scopes TrialThe Scopes TrialFact. Vs. FictionFact. Vs. Fiction

What you need to know What you need to know before reading…before reading…

July 10, 1925

CreationismCreationism- adheres to the literal - adheres to the literal interpretation of the Bible (Genesis). 6,000 interpretation of the Bible (Genesis). 6,000 years ago God willed the world to exist. This years ago God willed the world to exist. This took one week. Humans were created out of took one week. Humans were created out of nothing, made in the image of Adam and Eve. nothing, made in the image of Adam and Eve.

Evolution-Evolution- theory that 3.5 billion years ago, theory that 3.5 billion years ago, single-celled organisms developed from the single-celled organisms developed from the molecules in the Earth’s sea. These molecules in the Earth’s sea. These organisms slowly evolved and changed to organisms slowly evolved and changed to adapt to the changing environment. In adapt to the changing environment. In support of evidence: found fossils that date support of evidence: found fossils that date back to one million years. back to one million years.

AuthorsAuthors Jerome Lawrence and Robert LeeJerome Lawrence and Robert Lee

They wrote the play BASED on the real 1925 They wrote the play BASED on the real 1925 trial.trial.

They wrote it and it was performed on stage They wrote it and it was performed on stage in the 1950’s.in the 1950’s.

They wrote it as a response to McCarthyism.They wrote it as a response to McCarthyism.

Inherit the WindInherit the Wind Playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert Playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert

E. Lee wrote E. Lee wrote Inherit the WindInherit the Wind (1955) as a (1955) as a response to“the threat to intellectual response to“the threat to intellectual freedom presented by the anti-communist freedom presented by the anti-communist hysteria of the McCarthy era.”hysteria of the McCarthy era.”

McCarthy Era—Joe McCarthy, 1950’s McCarthy Era—Joe McCarthy, 1950’s politician, was on an anticommunist politician, was on an anticommunist crusade. He held hearings to question crusade. He held hearings to question government officials and others about government officials and others about suspected communist activities, in a suspected communist activities, in a campaign of persecution and slander that campaign of persecution and slander that became known as McCarthyism.became known as McCarthyism.

Who were involved?Who were involved? Play Name Actual NamePlay Name Actual Name Matthew Harrison Brady William Jennings Matthew Harrison Brady William Jennings

BryanBryan Henry Drummond Clarence DarrowHenry Drummond Clarence Darrow Bertram T. Cates John ScopesBertram T. Cates John Scopes E. K. Hornbeck H. L. MenckenE. K. Hornbeck H. L. Mencken Sarah Brady Mary Baird BryanSarah Brady Mary Baird Bryan Heavenly Hillsboro Dayton, TennesseeHeavenly Hillsboro Dayton, Tennessee

Other characters such as Rachel Brown and Rev. Other characters such as Rachel Brown and Rev. Jeremiah Brown are made up to create the story… Jeremiah Brown are made up to create the story…

Why do you think these characters are in the Why do you think these characters are in the play? What’s their purpose? play? What’s their purpose?

So, who were they anyway?So, who were they anyway?

Clarence DarrowClarence Darrow defense attorney famous for long closing

arguments just finished his successful defense of murderers just finished his successful defense of murderers

Leopold and Loeb, two 17 year old boys who Leopold and Loeb, two 17 year old boys who murdered a little kidmurdered a little kid

believed in truth and justice, even if it meant believed in truth and justice, even if it meant defending those he knew committed a crimedefending those he knew committed a crime

William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan a prosecuting lawyer with deep religious beliefsa prosecuting lawyer with deep religious beliefs ran for president 3 times (1896, 1900, and 1908)ran for president 3 times (1896, 1900, and 1908) served 2 terms in the House of Representativesserved 2 terms in the House of Representatives died 5 days after the trial ended. died 5 days after the trial ended.

Person #1Person #1

3 seconds3 seconds

Turn around to the person behind Turn around to the person behind you and quickly recall two facts you and quickly recall two facts about Clarence Darrow and his about Clarence Darrow and his character’s name in the play. character’s name in the play.

Person #2Person #2

3 seconds3 seconds

Turn around to the person behind Turn around to the person behind you and quickly recall two facts you and quickly recall two facts about William Jennings Bryan and his about William Jennings Bryan and his character’s name in the play. character’s name in the play.

Who were they?Who were they?

John ScopesJohn Scopes the biology teacher in Dayton, Tennesseethe biology teacher in Dayton, Tennessee volunteered to teach evolution, knowing volunteered to teach evolution, knowing

he would get into trouble he would get into trouble prompting the trial that would challenge prompting the trial that would challenge

the Butler Law, or the anti-evolution act.the Butler Law, or the anti-evolution act.

Dayton, TNDayton, TN Selling fans and Bibles Nationwide publicity

Who were they?Who were they? George RappalyeaGeorge Rappalyea

the man who wanted to bring the trial to Dayton the man who wanted to bring the trial to Dayton wanted to challenge the Christian Fundamentalistswanted to challenge the Christian Fundamentalists outraged when, during a funeral for a 6 year old, outraged when, during a funeral for a 6 year old,

Christian ministers were condemning the boy to Christian ministers were condemning the boy to hell for not being baptizedhell for not being baptized

contacted the press and the ACLU to get things contacted the press and the ACLU to get things startedstarted

sought out Scopes to be the sought out Scopes to be the catalystcatalyst for the trial. for the trial.

H.L. MenckenH.L. Mencken the journalist who covered the trialthe journalist who covered the trial witty writerwitty writer strong opinions strong opinions had the ability to stir things up with his writing. had the ability to stir things up with his writing.

Dayton During the TrialDayton During the Trial

What does this picture tell you about the atmosphere in Dayton? What details show

you that?

The Scopes Monkey Trial—1925The Scopes Monkey Trial—1925

Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan

What do you

notice about this

picture? Anythin

g surprise

you?

1920’s. United States1920’s. United States

After WWI, laws were passed in the state After WWI, laws were passed in the state legislature prohibiting teaching to ONLY legislature prohibiting teaching to ONLY the literal interpretation of the Bible. (NOT the literal interpretation of the Bible. (NOT allowed to teach Darwin’s theory)allowed to teach Darwin’s theory)

19221922 Kentucky teacher fired for teaching Kentucky teacher fired for teaching the students that the world is round.the students that the world is round.

1924 1924 North Carolina- textbook banned for North Carolina- textbook banned for having picture of a man on the same page having picture of a man on the same page as a picture of an apeas a picture of an ape

Butler ActButler Act

Introduced by John Butler Introduced by John Butler (farmer who ran for office)(farmer who ran for office)

Forbidden for any teacher Forbidden for any teacher in state, school or college in state, school or college to teach any theory to teach any theory denying biblical account of denying biblical account of creation on asserting that creation on asserting that a man descended from a a man descended from a lower order (animals).lower order (animals).

World Fundamentalist Association World Fundamentalist Association (WFA)(WFA)

fundamentalism: fundamentalism: a movement in 20th a movement in 20th century Protestantism emphasizing the century Protestantism emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to strict Christian life and teachingto strict Christian life and teaching

against bootleggers, Catholicsagainst bootleggers, Catholics

movement to get 2/3 states with anti-movement to get 2/3 states with anti-evolution bills/ then make amendment to evolution bills/ then make amendment to constitution.constitution.

American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)(ACLU)

Wanted to test Tennessee lawWanted to test Tennessee law

Volunteered their services in trial

Would finance defense of any Tennessee Would finance defense of any Tennessee teacher who would test constitutionalityteacher who would test constitutionality

Aids- Financial assistance, legal advice, publicity

Why write HISTORICAL Why write HISTORICAL FICTION?FICTION?

We must remember that this play is We must remember that this play is FICTION…the authors Lawrence and Lee FICTION…the authors Lawrence and Lee meant to make a statement about personal meant to make a statement about personal freedoms when writing it…they did not freedoms when writing it…they did not intend to report the case exactly as it intend to report the case exactly as it happened…happened…

Lawrence and Lee used the story of the real Lawrence and Lee used the story of the real Scopes trial to make a point…NOBODY HAS Scopes trial to make a point…NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO LIMIT OUR FREEDOM TO THE RIGHT TO LIMIT OUR FREEDOM TO LEARN AND CHOOSE OUR OWN IDEAS AND LEARN AND CHOOSE OUR OWN IDEAS AND BELIEFS. They were writing in the 1950’s BELIEFS. They were writing in the 1950’s when McCarthyism was an issue. when McCarthyism was an issue.

Important differences…Important differences…

Remember, in reality, John Scopes Remember, in reality, John Scopes KNEW he was going to get in trouble. KNEW he was going to get in trouble. He was a high school biology He was a high school biology teacher and coach. He volunteered teacher and coach. He volunteered to break the law in a test case for the to break the law in a test case for the ACLU. Prominent citizens of Dayton, ACLU. Prominent citizens of Dayton, Tennessee helped get the trial going Tennessee helped get the trial going to bring publicity to the town. to bring publicity to the town.

““A time not long ago, a place A time not long ago, a place not too far away…”not too far away…”

It’s very important to remember that It’s very important to remember that this historical event has deeper this historical event has deeper meaning and the themes of the play meaning and the themes of the play are meant to teach us a lesson. What are meant to teach us a lesson. What lessons do YOU think the play teaches lessons do YOU think the play teaches us? How does the play have more us? How does the play have more meaning TODAY than when it was meaning TODAY than when it was written in the 1950’s? Are we still written in the 1950’s? Are we still reluctant to take on new ideas when reluctant to take on new ideas when they challenge what we already believe they challenge what we already believe to be true?to be true?

What are evolution and What are evolution and creation, anyway?creation, anyway?

Well, a man named Charles Darwin Well, a man named Charles Darwin published a very important book published a very important book called called The Origin of SpeciesThe Origin of Species, in 1859. , in 1859. He was not around when the Scopes He was not around when the Scopes trial occurred. trial occurred.

This scientific theory about how man This scientific theory about how man came to be challenges the theories came to be challenges the theories of Creation, which maintain that God of Creation, which maintain that God made man. made man.

DarrowDarrow Addressing the CourtroomAddressing the Courtroom

Vocabulary Vocabulary

Atheist: one who believes that there Atheist: one who believes that there is no higher power or deity. is no higher power or deity.

Agnostic: one who is not committed Agnostic: one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a godthe nonexistence of God or a god