On this date in 1925 John T. Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in violation of the Butler Act. The resulting show trial, usually referred to as the Scopes Monkey Trial was staged to promote the city of Dayton, Tennessee and provide a stage for the opposing sides of the evolution question. Arguing against evolution was William Jennings Bryan, the former presidential candidate. Defending Scopes and evolution was Clarence Darrow. Although Scopes was found guilty and fined $100 (later overturned on a technicality) the fundamentalist viewpoint was so humiliated by Darrow it withdrew into obscurity. The trial was followed nationally as it was broadcast on the radio and served as the inspiration for the play Inherit the Wind. Fundamentalism resurrected in the 1960’s and 70’s as a political force against racial integration. Anti-evolution theories were relabeled as Creationism and Intelligent Design and continue to spread among the ill-educated.
Leave A Comment