I’m Arden Rissmiller. People tend to debate about teaching students about subjects that can be countered by religion, like evolution. The Scopes Trial (the monkey trial) was an example of sheltering kids from ideas their parents disagreed with. Parents can pull their kids out of school to keep them from learning about disagreeing topics. People, depending on their background, have different views on the topic. And whether teachers should teach it or leave topics like this to the parents. The Scopes trial was a turning point in the minds of the people of Tennessee and all over the USA. Before this, parents entirely chose what their children were taught. The Scopes trial represents the differences between traditional and modern values in America …show more content…
In 1925, John T. Scopes, found himself at the center of the debate when he defied the state's Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution. Scopes deliberately included evolution in his curriculum, leading to his arrest and trial. The trial had large media attention and became a battleground, with people supporting evolution advocating for academic freedom and scientific inquiry, while opponents argued for the preservation of traditional religious teachings. The courtroom proceedings were full of scrutiny and dramatic confrontations between legal giants. Clarence Darrow, renowned for his defense of civil liberties, represented Scopes, while William Jennings Bryan, a politician and someone who fought for religious laws, led the prosecution. The trial unfolded with heated debates over scientific evidence and religious doctrine. Witnesses were called to testify on both sides, with scientists defending evolution and theologians defending biblical creationism. The trial's climax came during Darrow's cross-examination of Bryan, where the prosecution's case fell apart under scrutiny, highlighting the tensions between faith and reason in American society. Several moments and testimonies came out during the Scopes Trial that got the attention of the nation. The testimony of scientific experts, including biologist Maynard M. Metcalf and geologist Horatio Hackett Newman, provided compelling evidence in support of evolution, challenging the religious views of the prosecution. On the other side, Bryan's closing argument tried to uphold the authority of the Bible and defend traditional religious beliefs against the current science. The trial's verdict ultimately found Scopes guilty of violating the Butler Act, though his conviction was later overturned on a technicality. Even with the legal outcome, the Scopes Trial left a mark on American culture, sparking debates over teaching
The Scopes Monkey Trial (otherwise known as the Scopes Trial, Monkey Trial, and the Scopes Evolution Trial [www.historynet.com]), was the trial of The State Of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes on the basis that John Scopes had defied the Butler Act. The Butler Act, which was passed on March 13, 1925, was “an act prohibiting the teaching of the Evolution Theory in all universities, normals, and public schools in Tennessee...” (www.tennessee.gov). This trial, held on July 10, 1925, was the people’s
The setting of the Scopes Trial and Inherit the Wind have both similarities and differences. The Scopes Trial took place in Dayton, Tennessee (“Tennessee vs. John Scopes,” 1925). Dayton is a town that normally wouldn’t have been found on a typical map. It is small, quiet, and would be considered insignificant if not for the historical event that took place there in the summer of 1925: the Monkey Trial. Likewise, the setting of Inherit the Wind features a sleepy town in the middle of summer that
conflict. Those who considered themselves traditional Americans, committed to traditional ways of life, launched a cultural war against those who presented a threat to it. There were many common themes that connected the three essays, “Sacco and Vanzetti”, “The Scopes Trial and the American Character”, and “Rural-Urban Conflict in the 1920’s”. Together they present an accurate interpretation of the Roaring Twenties. The case of Sacco and Vanzetti represented a deep division in American society. Nicola
America's Becoming Less Tolerant in 1920s This essay is going to talk about whether or not America became less tolerant in the 1920s. It will include: · The immigration change · The KKK, · The 'Red Scare' · Palmer Raids and · The Sacco and Vanzetti trial · Christian revivalism and · The 'Monkey Trial'. America had had an 'open door' policy towards immigration, but from 1917 onwards the door began to close. In 1917 an immigration law introduced a literacy test. This
Evolution and Creationism are both fact and theory but the question is which one should be taught in schools? Only a few school distracts have approved the teaching of evolution because it has more senitific evidence than creationism to prove that it is true. According to a new Gallup poll, just 39% of Americans believe in evolution. The Gallup polls also show that those Americans with higher education believe in the theory of evolution as opposed to those with only high school diplomas. The polls
big leagues but good at heart. When c... ... middle of paper ... ...ng any new ideas or values. In conclusion both inherit the Wind and Meet John Doe are both liberal films that without a doubt support liberal views on society. Throughout my essay I’ve described many of the examples that are present in both films such as abuse of power, non-acceptance of new ideas and shooting down of the average Joe. This are just 3 of the many points that had came up during the movie but are defiantly 3 of
the previously unexplainable, it has caused conflicts with religion. The Scopes “Monkey” Trial of Dayton, Tennessee was one of the most talked about trials in history because it was one of the first and most publicized times that this conflict occurred. The trial showed the schism between the faithful fundamentalists and the newly formed group of evolutionists. Although the jury was reminded that they only had to decide if Scopes had broken the law, the verdict was seen as much more than that. For one
illegal to teach evolution within public schools. During this time a man named John T. Scopes, who at the time was only a substitute biology teacher, had assigned a reading from a book that taught evolution. This obviously was illegal and as such Scopes went to trial for this. In the end Scopes was found guilty for breaking the law but his conviction was overturned because of a technicality. The outcome of this trial was no surprise, most of America followed suit and removed any mention of evolution
The Scopes Trial, which was also known as ‘The Monkey Trial’ or The State of Tennessee vs. Scopes, was a very popular legal dispute in court that was between the theory of evolution and creationism, and played a major role which shaped the 1920’s. What was just as popular was the interpretation of the case, if not more than the actual result of the dispute. This case received world-wide attention and the media coverage produced many different opinions world-wide. A major factor of why the Scopes trial
old and the new. The 1920s were a time of conflicting viewpoints between traditional behaviors and new and changing attitudes. New technology in the 1920s attributed to the change. Inventions such as the radio helped improve communication. Court trials, conventions, and meetings were broadcasted. Electrical appliances improved homes. In 1922, Sinclair Lewis wrote, "These standard advertised wares- toothpastes, socks, tires, cameras, instantaneous hot-water heaters were his symbols and proofs of
(Irvine 187). Years later, the theory of Creationism (founded on the Christian belief that God created man), which was being taught in schools, was challenged by Darwin’s theory of Evolution. Scopes v. Tennessee is a court case that came out of this dispute between Creationism and Evolution. A teacher, John Scopes, was accused by the Tennessee State for teaching Evolution as part of the science class curriculum (Settle 121). Today religious ideals and practices are not taught by teachers in public schools
The play Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert e lee explores both sides of the controversial topic; evolution. Taking place in a small town, a character by the name of Bertram Cates is being put on trial for challenging the towns’ beliefs and teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to a group of school children. This action was considered to be a heinous crime, so the town was forced to bring in two experienced, well known lawyers, Matthew Harrison Brady and Henry Drummond to bring
when he made the history of John Scopes and his “monkey trial” into a film called Inherit the Wind. Kramer knew the exact stereotypical “Hollywood history” his audience enjoyed. The trial itself had a series of conflicts, the main one being evolution vs. religion. Yet there was also a series of tensions throughout the movie, including the argument between individual vs. society. The same themes from Inherit the Wind can also be seen from the actual “monkey trial” event in Dayton, Tennessee. It is
Cultural Confrontations of the 1920’s The 1920s were a time of change for the United States. Following the First World War there was a rush of new cultural, social, and artistic dynamism, partly fuelled by the Progressivism movement that was cut short when American entered the Great War. This decade was defined by a change from more rural farm life to industrialism in big cities. The shift from the frugality and traditional family values or previous generations to the happy-go-lucky consumerism
teachers from teaching their students that anyone other than God created man. Then there became a problem of religion versus evolution. The Scopes Monkey trial affected Americans so much because it happened at a time when people were trying to find themselves and their beliefs. They had to decide whether they wanted to live in the past of accept the future. The trial revealed the conflicting views that were happening in the 1920s. People started to question how much of an influence society how and how