Scopes Monkey Trial

Many Americans were uncomfortable with the culture changes of the 1920s. – Sought comfort in fundamental interpretations of the Bible – Fundamentalism= idea that religious texts should be taken literally Prohibition emerges as one example of America’s fundamentalist pursuit to “correct” society

1925 the Tennessee Legislature passed a law making it illegal for public schools to “teach any theory that denies the story of Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible”

Theory of Evolution Charles Darwin theorized that all plants and animals had evolved from simpler forms of life

A young high school teacher names John Scopes deliberately broke the law and taught evolution to his high school science class – Se the stage for a showdown between modernity and traditional values The theory of evolution had been taught regularly in schools since the 1920s

The Scopes trial began on July 10 th, 1925 brining far more attention than either side expected – More than 100 journalists from aroudn the country descended on Dayton, Tennessee to report on the trial

William Jennings Bryan vs. Clarence Darrow William Jennings Bryan represents the State of Tennessee with its prosecution of John Scopes Clarence Darrow defended Scopes free of charge – Had defended many radicals and labor union members

“If evolution wins, Christianity goes,” - warned William Jennings Bryan

“Scopes isn’t on trial: civilization is on trial” - argued Clarence Darrow

When the trial ended it took the jury less than 10 minutes to find Scopes guilty – Fined $100

The scopes trial is a perfect example of the culture clash of the 1920s Modernity vs. traditionalism The Scopes trial did not end the debate over teaching evolution in public schools