THE BIBLE VS. SCIENCE THE SCOPES MONKEY TRIAL
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THE BIBLE VS. SCIENCE
THE SCOPES MONKEY TRIAL
Modernism
The Modernist movement relied heavily on science and logic to justify the rapid changes in society during the 1920’s.
They embraced change as evidence of the progress that society was making.
Most supporters were people in URBAN AREAS where most of the change was taking place.
They viewed “old fashioned” things as just that, old and outdated.
Traditionalism
This group of people, mostly from RURAL AREAS, were very worried about the social and general changes in American society.
They worried that the basic teachings of God and the Bible were being lost by Americans, and that this was negatively affecting society.
Immigration, Scientific Advancements, Consumer Driven Lifestyles, all meant that society was heading downhill fast.
The Clash
Modernists and Traditionalists, as we will see over the next few days, clashed often in the 1920’s.
These were not armed or violent fights, but rather took place in the newspapers, on the radio, and often, in the courtroom.
One of the biggest clashes them all took place in a Tennessee courtroom over the teaching of evolution ideas that claim that man descended from apes.
Using the Law to prevent change
The strong religious movement, fearful of changes in society, pressed states to pass laws banning the teaching of evolution in schools as a way to keep modernist ideas from taking a strong hold and growing in society.
Tennessee passed the Butler Act, on the next slide.
This was considered a victory for the religious movement, but would soon be challenged.
The Butler Act
“That it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, to teach any theory that denies the Story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals."
Traditionalists Modernists
Viewed teaching evolution as ruining the connection with God.
The Butler Act forbade it, thus they supported and helped write it.
They argued that science did a better job of explaining human evolution, and had to be taught.
They felt that it violated the right to free speech to not allow it.
The Butler Act from each side
The Butler Act in practice
The law did not specifically ban teaching evolution, it only banned teaching that MAN descended from APES.
Violators were charged with a misdemeanor, and fined from $100 to $500.
This trial was one of the “Trials of the Century”, and was not about the fine or misdemeanor charge.
The ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union is a group the protects the rights of individuals to express their personal views, no matter how controversial they may be.
They have represented Neo-Nazis, the KKK, Anti-War Protestors, and all sorts of other groups.
Their main goal is to protect the First Amendment.
The ACLU and the Butler Act
The ACLU viewed the Butler Act as a violation of an individual teachers rights and freedom to teach academics.
They felt that the First Amendment did not allow for the government to deny a teacher the right to teach what they saw as science.
The stage was not set for a historic showdown!
John T. Scopes
Scopes volunteered to teach evolution in class on purpose to get caught so he would be charged with violating the law.
The ACLU agreed to pay for the costs of the trial and the help Mr. Scopes in any way necessary.
He was charged in May 1925, and the trial started July 10, 1925
John T. Scopes:
Biology teacher who
was accused and
tried in Tennessee
of teaching the
theory of evolution.
It was actually a
planned trial to test
the legitimacy of
laws dealing with
teaching science.
The Defense
Clarence Dorrow was assigned
the task of defending Scopes in
the trial. He was the best
attorney working for the ACLU,
and tried many controversial
cases.
•He attended Allegheny College
•Law Degree from the
University of Michigan.
The Prosecution
Led by none
other than
William
Jennings
Bryan,
devout
Christian, three
time
Presidential
candidate, and
outstanding
attorney.
The Trial
It was named the “Monkey” trial due to the fact that, according to Darwinian theory, man descended from apes.
It was an absolute media circus, with reporters all over town and daily radio reports of trial happenings broadcast nationwide and in papers all over.
The two attorneys battled furiously during the trial, including William Jennings Bryan taking the stand and being grilled by Dorrow for several hours in an attempt to discredit Bryan’s religious reasoning on the origin of man.
Family with chimp
in diner.
Mob outside of
courthouse.
Dorrow making
statement
during the trial.
Dorrow cross
examining Bryan
DeRosa’s Chimp Poster
The Outcome
In the end, Scopes was found guilty and fined $100.
The ruling was appealed and overturned on a technicality. The judge said the jury should have given the fine, not the judge.
In using a technicality, the appeal judge refused to render a decision on any issue related to religion, the state, and laws.
The ACLU was not happy about this refusal to strike down the law.
AFTERMATH
Many Traditionalists were encouraged by the victory in the trial and passed several laws in other states banning teaching of evolution.
In 1968 the U.S. Supreme court declared that laws like the Butler Act were UNCONSTITUTIONAL because their primary purpose violated the first amendment separation of church and state. It was a case against Arkansas.
After the trial most states did not bother to charge teachers with violating Anti-Evolution laws, even if they had them.
Tennessee repealed the law in 1965, so this ruling did nothing.
Overall
The trial served to heighten public awareness of the Modernist vs. Traditionalist differences on social issues.
This fight still rolls on today in the form of “Liberals” vs. “Conservatives” in American politics and on news shows. Liberals being more open to change, and Conservatives being more interested in preserving traditional values.
The “Gay Marriage” issue is probably the most visible evidence of the ongoing conflict.
Did you know???????
Bryan College, a Christian College, in Tennessee was named after W.J.Bryan in honor of his work on the “Monkey Trial”
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