what did the scopes monkey trial argue

John Thomas Scopes, and commonly referred to as the Scopes Monkey Trial, was an American legal case from July 10 to July 21, 1925, in which a high school teacher, John T. Scopes, was accused of violating Tennessee 's Butler Act

, which had made it unlawful to teach human evolution in any state-funded school.

Full Answer

What are facts about the Scopes Monkey Trial?

The Scopes Monkey Trial took place in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee. The trial is formally known as The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes. The state accused Mr. Scopes, a public high school teacher, of teaching human evolution against state law. Although this case was purposefully staged to attract publicity for the town of Dayton, it had ...

What was the impact of the Scopes Trial?

The trial’s proceedings helped to bring the scientific evidence for evolution into the public sphere while also stoking a national debate over the veracity of evolution that continues to the present day. Anti-evolution books on sale in Dayton, Tennessee, during the Scopes Trial, 1925.

What was the result of the Scopes Trial?

With Raulston limiting the trial to the single question of whether Scopes had taught evolution, which he admittedly had, Scopes was convicted and fined $100 on July 21. On appeal, the state Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the 1925 law but acquitted Scopes on the technicality that he had been fined excessively.

Why is it called the Monkey Trial?

why is the Scopes trial called the monkey trial? Answer and Explanation: The Scopes Trial was also called the Scopes Monkey Trial because of the U.S. state of Tennessee's opposition to teaching evolution, which theorized. Also to know is, what was the Scopes trial about and what was the outcome?

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What was the purpose of the Scopes Trial?

The trial’s proceedings helped to bring the scientific evidence for evolution into the public sphere while also stoking a national debate over the veracity of evolution that continues to the present day. Scopes Trial.

How much was Scopes fined?

With Raulston limiting the trial to the single question of whether Scopes had taught evolution, which he admittedly had, Scopes was convicted and fined $100 on July 21.

What was the climax of the trial?

The trial’s climax came on July 20, when Darrow called on Bryan to testify as an expert witness for the prosecution on the Bible. Raulston moved the trial to the courthouse lawn, citing the swell of spectators and stifling heat inside.

When did the jury selection begin in the Butler case?

Jury selection began on July 10 , and opening statements, which included Darrow’s impassioned speech about the constitutionality of the Butler law and his claim that the law violated freedom of religion, began on July 13. Judge John Raulston ruled out any test of the law’s constitutionality or argument on the validity of evolutionary theory on the basis that Scopes, rather than the Butler law, was on trial. Raulston determined that expert testimony from scientists would be inadmissible.

Who ruled out the validity of evolutionary theory?

Judge John Raulston ruled out any test of the law’s constitutionality or argument on the validity of evolutionary theory on the basis that Scopes, rather than the Butler law, was on trial. Raulston determined that expert testimony from scientists would be inadmissible.

When did Tennessee stop teaching evolution?

In the trial’s aftermath, Tennessee prevented the teaching of evolution in the classroom until the Butler Act’s repeal in 1967. Additionally, the state legislatures of Mississippiand Arkansaspassed their own bans on the teaching of evolution in 1926 and 1928, respectively, which also lasted for several decades before being repealed.

Who led the Butler case?

William Jennings Bryan led for the prosecution and Clarence Darrow for the defense. Jury selection began on July 10, and opening statements, which included Darrow’s impassioned speech about the constitutionality of the Butler law and his claim that the law violated freedom of religion, began on July 13. Judge John Raulston ruled out any test of the ...

Why did the scopes monkey trial start?

The Scopes Monkey Trial started as an effort by the ACLU to challenge the constitutionality of a Tennessee law that forbade teaching the theory of evolution in public schools. The Tennessee Supreme Court found the law forbidding the teaching of evolution to be constitutional.

What did Scopes challenge?

Scopes challenged Tennessee law forbidding the teaching of evolution. The case arose when, seeking to test the constitutional validity of the Butler Act, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) placed advertisements in Tennessee newspapers offering to pay the expenses of any teacher willing to challenge the law.

Why did Bryan join the prosecution team?

Yet Bryan volunteered to join the prosecution team because he opposed the theory of evolution for its association with eugenics and with social Darwinism.

How long did it take to find Scopes guilty?

Reporters assembled from as far away as London and Hong Kong. H. L. Mencken chronicled the trial for the Baltimore Sun. The jury needed only nine minutes to find Scopes guilty.

What was the Supreme Court's decision in Scopes v. State?

State (1925), Scopes was found guilty and fined $100, but, on appeal, the Supreme Court of Tennessee, pointing to a technicality in the issuance of the fine, overturned Scopes’s conviction, while finding the Butler Act constitutional.

How many spectators were in the courtroom in 1925?

(AP Photo, used with permission from the Associated Press) More than six hundred spectators shoehorned themselves into the courtroom.

What did Hunter's endorsement of evolution mean?

Second, Hunter’s endorsement of evolution — a doctrine championed by Scopes’s supporters as the enlightened view — was derived from his embrace of eugenics as a means of protecting the white race, which he deemed superior, through hereditary selection.

How long did it take for Scopes to be found guilty?

His teachings, and His teachings alone, can solve the problems that vex the heart and perplex the world. After eight days of trial, it took the jury only nine minutes to deliberate. Scopes was found guilty on July 21 and ordered by Raulston to pay a $100 fine (equivalent to $1,500 in 2020).

What was the Scopes v. State case?

John Thomas Scopes and commonly referred to as the Scopes Monkey Trial, was an American legal case in July 1925 in which a high school teacher, John T. Scopes, was accused of violating Tennessee 's Butler Act, which had made it unlawful to teach human evolution in ...

How long did the confrontation between Bryan and Darrow last?

The confrontation between Bryan and Darrow lasted approximately two hours on the afternoon of the seventh day of the trial. It is likely that it would have continued the following morning but for Judge Raulston's announcement that he considered the whole examination irrelevant to the case and his decision that it should be "expunged" from the record. Thus Bryan was denied the chance to cross-examine the defense lawyers in return, although after the trial Bryan would distribute nine questions to the press to bring out Darrow's "religious attitude". The questions and Darrow's short answers were published in newspapers the day after the trial ended, with The New York Times characterizing Darrow as answering Bryan's questions "with his agnostic's creed, 'I don't know,' except where he could deny them with his belief in natural, immutable law".

How much was Scopes fined?

Scopes was found guilty and fined $100 (equivalent to $1,500 in 2020), but the verdict was overturned on a technicality. The trial served its purpose of drawing intense national publicity, as national reporters flocked to Dayton to cover the big-name lawyers who had agreed to represent each side.

Why did the ACLU oppose the Butler Act?

The ACLU had originally intended to oppose the Butler Act on the grounds that it violated the teacher's individual rights and academic freedom , and was therefore unconstitutional. Principally because of Clarence Darrow, this strategy changed as the trial progressed. The earliest argument proposed by the defense once the trial had begun was that there was actually no conflict between evolution and the creation account in the Bible; later, this viewpoint would be called theistic evolution. In support of this claim, they brought in eight experts on evolution. But other than Dr. Maynard Metcalf, a zoologist from Johns Hopkins University, the judge would not allow these experts to testify in person. Instead, they were allowed to submit written statements so their evidence could be used at the appeal. In response to this decision, Darrow made a sarcastic comment to Judge Raulston (as he often did throughout the trial) on how he had been agreeable only on the prosecution's suggestions. Darrow apologized the next day, keeping himself from being found in contempt of court.

What did the jury foreman call the violation of the Act?

He also warned the jury not to judge the merit of the law (which would become the focus of the trial) but on the violation of the Act, which he called a 'high misdemeanor' . The jury foreman himself was unconvinced of the merit of the Act but he acted, as did most of the jury, on the instructions of the judge.

What did the trial of the Fundamentalists and Modernists show?

The trial publicized the Fundamentalist–Modernist controversy, which set Modernists, who said evolution was not inconsistent with religion, against Fundamentalists, who said the Word of God as revealed in the Bible took priority over all human knowledge.

Where did the Scopes Monkey Trial take place?

The Scopes Monkey Trial took place in 1925 in Dayton , Tennessee . The trial is formally known as The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes. The state accused Mr. Scopes, a public high school teacher, of teaching human evolution against state law. Although this case was purposefully staged to attract publicity for the town of Dayton, it had repercussions for the creation vs. evolution debate and the future of teaching Darwin’s theory in public schools.

How did the Scopes trial affect the creation versus evolution debate?

The trial’s impact on the creation versus evolution debate was significant, if delayed. The farce revealed a growing animosity toward religion and biblical views among non-believers who were willing to use the theory of evolution as a weapon against faith. Scopes’ guilt or innocence was never the real issue. Nor, despite the original intent, was it a legal test of the Butler Act. Rather, it was a publicity stunt meant to corrode biblical views and to mock religion.

Why did Darrow call Bryan to the stand?

In a move some suspect was his entire motivation for taking the case, Darrow called Bryan to the stand as a “witness” for the Bible. Thanks to fictionalized accounts, it’s commonly believed that Bryan struggled to defend Scripture and his fundamentalist faith and was embarrassed on the stand.

What is the name of the movie that depicts the monkey trial?

Then a fictionalized version of the Scopes Monkey Trial appeared in the form of a play, Inherit the Wind. In that play and a 1960 movie, the prosecutor is depicted as a raging, narrow-minded, uninformed Christian Fundamentalist, and the defense as gentle, broad-minded, intelligent agnostics.

What was the debate between Bryan and Darrow?

The trial quickly devolved into a one-on-one debate between Bryan and Darrow over religion and religious ideals.

How long did it take for the Tennessee Supreme Court to overturn the Scopes case?

Although Scopes was found guilty in only nine minutes by the jury, the verdict was eventually overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court on a technicality. The justices declared in their ruling that “nothing is to be gained by prolonging the life of this bizarre case.”.

Why did the ACLU not allow Scopes to testify?

The defense was careful not to allow Scopes to testify, possibly because they knew he’d never actually taught the subject. Darrow’s involvement was resisted by the ACLU, at first, in fear that he’d make the trial a personal circus and crusade against religion—which he did.

Who was John Thomas Scopes?

Defending substitute high school teacher John Thomas Scopes was Clarence Darrow, one of the celebrity lawyers of the day. William Jennings Bryan—the “Great Commoner,” three-time Democratic nominee for President, and Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. ruling elder—argued for the prosecution, the State of Tennessee, ...

What was the battle between Fundamentalists and Modernists?

By the mid 1920s, the battle between Fundamentalists, who believed in the literal truth of the Bible, and Modernists, who believed religion should progress with modern society, embroiled most Protestant denominations. It was particularly divisive among Presbyterians, contributing to the formation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1936.

What was the name of the case that went down in history as the Scopes Monkey Trial?

A Whole Lotta Monkey Business. The official name of this legal battle may have been The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, but it has gone down in history as the Scopes Monkey Trial thanks to Baltimore Sun reporter H.L. Mencken’s lively coverage.

When was the monkey trial overturned?

In 2018, nearly 100 years after the famous Monkey Trial took place, you would be forgiven for assuming that the fate of the evolution debate is settled. While Scopes’s conviction and $100 fine were overturned on a technicality, the decision in favor of evolution was solidified on a national level in 1968, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a similar law in Arkansas. But while Darwin’s theory of evolution is taught throughout American schools today, there are a surprising number of people around the country still trying to change that.

What was the trial of the century?

Known then as the Trial of the Century, the famous court case was the ultimate showdown between Evolution and the Church.

Who was the MVP of the Evolution case?

Scopes and the tenets of evolution were defended by rockstar criminal defense lawyer Clarence Darrow, who emerged as the real MVP of the trial. In a stunning performance that took place on the front lawn of the courthouse in order for the proceedings to escape the sweltering heat and crowds of onlookers indoors, Darrow cross-examined none other than his opponent Bryan about how the Bible should be interpreted. By all accounts, he ripped Bryan’s argument to shreds. While Bryan’s side would technically win the case, it was something of a defeat for him personally. Five days after the trial ended, he died in his sleep.

Who was the teacher who was convicted of the Darwin trial?

The trial was of John Thomas Scopes, a 24-year-old high school teacher and football coach with “carrot-colored hair” ...

Who was the presidential candidate who was accused of a conspiracy to defend Christianity?

Fighting for the prosecution was William Jennings Bryan, a three-time presidential candidate who saw the trial as his chance to give the performance of a lifetime in his fight to defend the religious fundamentalism in which he so avidly believed. “The contest between evolution and Christianity is a duel to the death.

What was the monkey trial?

The Scopes "Monkey" Trial was an American legal trial in Dayton, Tennessee, during the summer of 1925. Also known as The State of Tennessee vs. John Thomas Scopes, the case tried high school substitute science teacher John Scopes for violating Tennessee's ban on the teaching of evolution in all public and state-funded Tennessee schools.

Why was the Scopes trial important?

The true importance of the trial was not the verdict, however; the Scopes trial increased American awareness and interest in the issue of teaching theology and/or modern science in public schools. It also drew attention to the divide between religious Fundamentalists and Modernists who took a less literal approach to the Bible ...

Why did Darrow ask the jury to find Scopes guilty?

Darrow was out of options for the case , and hoping to ensure an appeal to the Supreme Court, asked the jury to find Scopes guilty. This move prohibited Bryan from giving his closing remarks, said Branch, and historians wonder if the public perception of the trial would have been different if he had been able to speak.

What were the factors that led to the Scopes trial?

One such factor was World War I , which had ended just seven years before. "There were a few who blamed the war in part on the acceptance (and misunderstanding) of evolution by German militarists, including even confirmed evolutionists," he told Live Science.

What did Bryan believe about evolution?

In addition to contradicting his religious beliefs, Bryan believed that teaching evolution violated local control of school curricula, promoted laissez-faire capitalism, and justified war and imperialism. Furthermore, Bryan was not opposed to science. He belonged to several national science organizations. In his book " Darwinism Comes to America ," historian Ronald L. Numbers notes that, in private, Bryan did not always take the Bible literally.

What movie was inspired by the Scopes trial?

The Scopes trial inspired the 1960 film "Inherit the Wind.". The film is not a documentary and contains several exaggerations and historical inaccuracies. RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU... A cousin of the Velociraptor was discovered in northwestern New Mexico in 2008.

How long did the Butler Act last?

The ban, formally the Butler Act, was passed in March of 1925, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The trial lasted eight days. John Scopes was found guilty but the verdict was overturned on a technicality. The true importance of the trial was not the verdict, however; the Scopes trial increased American awareness ...

What was the purpose of the Scopes trial?

The Scopes Trial, which took place in Tennessee in 1925, was a widely publicized trial that challenged the legality of a state law prohibiting public schools from teaching the theory that man had somehow evolved from more primitive life forms. The willing defendant, John Scopes, was convicted of violating the law, but won on a technicality on appeal.

Where did the Scopes trial start?

The impetus for the Scopes trial began in a meeting among town leaders at a drugstore in Dayton, Tennessee, in response to a newspaper advertisement placed by the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) offering to provide legal services to anyone willing to be prosecuted under the Butler Act.

What was the name of the drama that distorted the facts of the case?

The trial gained renewed attention after it was dramatized for both stage (1955) and screen (1960). Titled Inherit the Wind, both dramatizations distorted the facts of the case and were promoted to harm Christianity.

Why was Darrow's attempt unprecedented?

Darrow's attempt was unprecedented, because trial attorneys almost never take the witness stand in their own cases. Bryan agreed. A witness in a trial is always at a disadvantage on cross-examination, because he can only answer questions that are posed by a hostile adversary.

How long did it take for Scopes to be found guilty?

The conclusion. The next day, it was Darrow's turn to be cross-examined. But Darrow took the public by taking the unprecedented step of asking the jury for a guilty verdict against his client. After 8 days of trial, and 9 minutes of deliberation, Scopes was found guilty on July 21 and ordered to pay a fine of $100.

Why did Darrow bring the Scopes case?

Darrow brought the Scopes case in the hopes of winning a public relations and legal victory. Historians typically believe in evolution and declare victory for Darrow, but in fact Darrow and the ACLU lost the case badly and Tennessee continued to limit the teaching of evolution in public schools for roughly another 50 years.

When did the Butler Act end?

The law challenged by the ACLU in the Scopes Trial remained in effect for over 50 more years. In 1967, Tennessee repealed the Butler Act, and in 1968, the Supreme Court ruled in Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97, that such bans on teaching are unconstitutional if they are primarily religious in intent.

Overview

Origins

Dayton, Tennessee

Proceedings

Appeal to the Supreme Court of Tennessee

Aftermath

Publicity

Courthouse