The Scopes Trial, 1925

What was the Scopes Trial?

The Scopes Trial (sometimes called 'the Monkey Trial') was an important trial in 1925 that highlighted the conflict between different American beliefs and attitudes.

Who was the person on trial in the Scopes Trial?

Johnny Scopes was a modernist high school teacher who deliberately broke Tennessee law in 1925 by teaching evolution in school. He was famously put on trial, raising awareness of the controversy.

What was the Scopes Trial about?

There were 4 main points to the Scopes Trial.

• ❖ The Scopes Trial was about the teaching of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in schools.
• ❖ The Anti-Evolution League of America was set up to campaign against the teaching of evolution in schools, because it went against the fundamentalist interpretation of the biblical story of creation.
• ❖ In 1925, the state of Tennessee passed the Butler Act, which made it illegal to teach evolution in schools. Anyone who did so could be fined.
• ❖ A school teacher called Johnny Scopes, in Dayton, challenged the law and taught lessons on evolution.

Who argued for fundamentalists in the Scopes Trial?

The prosecution in Scopes Trial aimed to support the fundamentalist point of view by finding him guilty.

• ❖ Scopes was prosecuted by the famous fundamentalist lawyer, William Jennings Bryan.
• ❖ The prosecution proved that Scopes had taught evolution,
• ❖ The prosecution attacked the defence's attitude to the Bible.
• ❖ The prosecution defended the fundamentalist view.

Who argued for modernists in the Scopes Trial?

Scopes was defended by the famous lawyer, Clarence Darrow, an agnostic. He turned the trial into a discussion about fundamentalism, put William Jennings Bryan on the stand and called his fundamentalist beliefs foolish.

What was the verdict in the Scopes Trial?

Although Darrow tried to turn the trial into a discussion about creationism and evolutionism, the judge insisted that it was about whether Scopes had broken the law by teaching evolution. He had, and was fined $100.

What were the effects of the Scopes Trial?

The Scopes Trial had a number of results.

• ❖ In the short term, the trial seemed to have little effect.
• ❖ The Butler Act remained in place until 1967.
• ❖ The Anti-Evolution League of America persuaded more states to ban the teaching of evolution.
• ❖ However, the modernists had succeeded in challenging fundamentalist control.
• ❖ The trial was reported nationwide and raised awareness of the debate.
• ❖ Bryan's fundamentalist views were undermined. Many people mocked them.
• ❖ The trial highlighted the divide between fundamentalist, rural America and modernist, urban society.