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Scopes Monkey Trial. By: Tyler McChristian And Paul Twarowski. Who?. Biology teacher John Scopes who had illegally taught Darwin’s theory of evolution. William Jennings Bryan , former Democratic presidential candidate who mounted the offensive against Scopes.
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Scopes Monkey Trial By: Tyler McChristian And Paul Twarowski
Who? • Biology teacher John Scopes who had illegally taught Darwin’s theory of evolution. • William Jennings Bryan, former Democratic presidential candidate who mounted the offensive against Scopes. • Clarence Darrow, defensive attorney in the case.
What? • A court case to determine the fate of John Scopes, and decide whether or not evolution should be allowed to be taught in schools. People congregated to the courthouse in droves setting up lemonade stands, banners, and even bringing chimpanzees. It was more a battle of “Intelligence vs. Religious Bigotry” or “Spiritual Teachings vs. The Defamation of the Bible”. There was virtually no middle ground in it, which is why the case was so important. It was to staunchly different beliefs fighting it out.
Where and When? • Dayton, Tennessee. • July 1925 • During the Progressive Era in American history when scientific discovery was on the rise.
The Sparknotes Version of the Case • The fundamentals of science and the bible were brought into question. Bryan, on the prosecution, said that the bible should be taken literally. Darrow offered various interpretations of the bible and followed with many passionate speeches. Darrow systematically destroyed Bryan’s case. Six days into the trial, Bryan died in his sleep. Darrow asked the jury to come back with a guilty verdict so they could appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court and have further action taken. In the end, however, the Supreme courts dismissed the case rather than bringing it to higher powers.
So, What Did It Accomplish? • In the short term, almost nothing. Scopes was let off because the case was dismissed, and Bryan died during the case so the prosecution basically died with it. The debate over evolution in schools did not end, and the Federal Supreme Court never got the chance to make a ruling on it. In fact, after the case Arkansas and Mississippi passed laws banning Darwin’s theory in schools. It was more of a moral victory than anything else.
