The Scopes Trial
What was the Scopes Trial?
It was otherwise known as the Monkey
Trial. It settled the debate of “should
evolution be taught in public schools.” To
see if evolution would be the best idea to
teach kids, they decided to put a teacher on
trial who taught evolution.
Introduction
America was changing in the 1920’s. The values,
laws, and ideas were constantly changing. One of
the ideas that was changing was the notion of the
theory of evolution being correct. And if it was
correct should it be taught to the masses? To test
the idea if evolution should be taught in schools
they decided to put an evolution teacher on trial.
Introduction
It started with the Butler Bill which banned
evolution on the grounds of it being heresy to the
Bible in 1925. It passed in congress in 1925. The
state of Tennessee enacted the law, and it would
be a great place to test the fate of evolution. The
America Civil Liberties Union sought out teachers
to put the law into practice. They placed an ad in
the Chattanooga newspaper seeking teachers who
would challenge the Butler Law. They promised in
the ad that it would not cost the teacher his job.
Introduction
Now that there was public interest from the news
ad, a group of towns people from Dayton,
Tennessee tried to make this case very public.
They tried to figure out ways to generate buzz. The
Daytonians chose John Thomas Scopes to be on
trial as the teacher who violated the Butler Law
and taught evolution.
John Thomas Scopes
John Thomas Scopes was born in
Paducah, Kentucky. His family
moved to Illinois when he was a
teenager. He eventually got a law
degree from the University of
Kentucky in 1924. He moved to
Dayton, Tennessee where he
became a football coach and a
substitute teacher for Rhea County
High School. He was 24 when he was
asked to participate in the trial.
The Scopes Trial
While in Rhea High School, working as a football
coach and substitute, he accepted the challenge of
being put on trial for teaching evolution. He later
admitted as a substitute teacher, he was not sure
if covered teaching evolution to the students.
However, he still accepted the challenge of saying
he would teach students evolution. He was asked
by Daytonians to be the test of the Butler law. He
agreed to be indicted to see how this case played
out.
The Scopes Trial
Pictured: Darrow and Bryan
Due to the shear publicity
of this issue, many wellknown people stepped up
to be apart of the trail.
William Jennings Bryan who
brought about the Butler
law decided to be the
prosecutor for the trial.
Clarence Darrow and
Dudley Field Malone were
high profile attorneys that
wanted to represent Scopes
in the trial.
Preparing for the Trial
Scopes was indicted by a grand jury for violating
the anti-evolution law(the Butler Law). As the
tension was building for the trial, the town built a
pedestrian mall close by, a platform on the lawn of
the courthouse, and a tourist camp. The
courtroom was prepared to broadcast the trial to
the world as the equipped it with the necessary
technology.
The Trial
After the jury selection, Darrow tries to persuade
the jury that the Butler Law is unconstitutional. He
tried to state that this violates the freedom of
religion. The next day he objects to having prayer
to begin the trial, but Judge Raulston objects to
that. The judge also overruled that the defense's
motion to have the Butler Law declared
unconstitutional. The judge cited that public
schools are not religious, but they are designed to
maintain mental and moral development and
discipline.
The Trial
Scopes’ defense pleas not guilty. Some witnesses
and experts were reviewed. Scopes’ students did
say he taught them evolution. A zoologist,
Maynard Metcalf, testified that evolution is widely
embraced by the scientific community. The
prosecution asks the judge to bar the scientists’
testimony; Judge Raulston rules to bar it. The
judge said it was not relevant enough to the case.
The Trial - Interpretation
Bryan calls on a biblical text expert to
testify. Clarence Darrow asks Bryan many
questions about if the Bible should be taken
literally. Bryan states that Darrow is making
a “slur at the Bible.” Darrow replied back
with accusing Bryan of “fool ideas that no
intelligent Christian on Earth believes.”
The Ruling
Judge Raulston expunges Bryan’s testimony
from the record stating that it is not
relevant to the case. Darrow asks the jury to
find Scopes guilty and go deliberate. They
could chose to appeal this verdict. The jury
deliberated for a total of 9 minutes. Scopes
was found guilty and only had to pay $100
in fines. Both ACLU and Bryan offer to pay
for his fine.
The Ruling
After the ruling is stated, Scopes has a
chance to speak. He uttered this about his
intent, “To oppose this new law in any way I
can. Any other action would be in violation
of my ideal of academic freedom – that is,
to teach the truth as guaranteed in our
constitution, of personal and religious
freedom.”
After the Trial
Five days after trial, Bryan died in his sleep
in Dayton. IN May 31, 1926, the appealing
hearing started. Ultimately, the judge
upheld the Butler Law, stating that it was
constitutional. However, Scopes’ verdict was
overturn, because Judge Raulston should
have not set the fine amount, the jury
should have. In May 17, 1967, the Butler Act
is repealed.
Quiz
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What was the scopes trial also called?
The Monkey Trial
The State of Tennessee vs. John Thomas Scopes
All of the above None of the Above
Quiz
2. True or False. Scopes was a fulltime biology teacher.
a. True
b. False -
Quiz
3. What was the act officially called that Scopes was indicted
for?
A. The Anti-Evolution Act
B. The Darrow Act
C. The Darwin Act
D. The Butler Act -
Quiz
4. Which organization advertised in a newspaper for a
participant to be found guilty of teaching evolution?
A. The America Civil Liberties Union B. The Evolution Civil Union
C. The Scientists of America
D. The Christians for Evolution of America
Quiz
5. What did the defense state as why the Butler Act was
unconstitutional?
A. The first amendment B. The fourth amendment
C. The six amendment
D. The eighth amendment
Quiz
6. Place these people with their correct title during the Trial.
Scopes – Defendant
Darrow – Attorney
Field – Attorney
Raulston – Judge
Bryan - Prosecutor
Quiz
7. True or False. Darrow questioned Bryan about the Bible being
taken completely literally.
A.True –
B.False
Quiz
8.
A.
B.
C.
D.
How long did it take the jury to present the verdict?
1 hour
9 minutes 34 minutes
4 hours and 16 minutes
Quiz
9. True or False. The trial verdict in 1925 declared the Butler Act
unconstitutional.
A. True
B. False -
Quiz
10. How much was the fine Scopes had to pay?
A. $125
B. $115
C. $110
D. $100 -
Quiz
11. Who offered to pay for Scopes’ fine?
A.Bryan
B.ACLU
C.Darrow
D.Both A&B E.Both B & C
F.All of the Above
Quiz
12. True or False. Scopes tried to appeal the verdict.
A.True –
B.False
Quiz
13. During the appeal trial, the Butler Act was found to be
unconstitutional.
A. True
B. False -
Quiz
14. During the appeal trial, Scopes’ verdict was overturned.
A.True –
B.False
Quiz
15. When was the Butler Act repealed in Tennessee?
A. 1928
B. 1954
C. 1967 D. 1969
Resources
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http://www.aboutpaducah.com/directory/celebrities/354.html
http://www.biographyplus.com/john_t_scopes.htm
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/Sco_sco.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/monkeytrial/peopleevents/p_scopes.h
tml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_T._Scopes
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4723956
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/evolut.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopes_Trial