The Origin of Species

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Recommended: Public school evolution taught

In 1859, a time when literal interpretation of the Bible was common practice, a book that could potentially debase society’s understanding of what was fact was published and it summarized a theory that humans have slowly evolved from a primitive form, commonly called the Theory of Evolution.(Kennedy Pg.572) The book titled On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life was written by an English naturalist and geologist, Charles Darwin, and it overcame the scientific rejection that earlier similar theories had faced. Leading up to his publication during the Protestant Reformation Darwin went on a five-year-long voyage on the HMS Beagle as company to Captain Robert FitzRoy and kept a dairy of his experiences which would later be used as the bases of his book. The immediate significance of the book was massive for reasons such as international debate, impact on the scientific community, worldwide and political effects, and most drastically the religious attitude with which it was received. These were all very significant implications, however, Darwin’s disruption of the church and the creation of Darwinism would cause a struggle between religion and science for centuries to come. Though there were many other scientific illustrations written concerning the same idea of his, Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species set the foundation of evolutionary biology.
Charles Darwin (February 12, 1809-April 19, 1882) attended University of Edinburgh Medical School, at the time the best medical school in the United Kingdom but neglected his studies as he thought the lectures to be boring and the surgical learning distressing. His Father was disappointed and annoyed at his negl...

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...rtunately, despite scientific proof and evidence, a religion based political controversy has grown within the United States about the way evolution is taught in schools. Even today, the effects of Darwin’s writings live on in the minds of wondrous people and scientists that continue to further prove and develop his Theory of Evolution supporting the major significance of this event.

Works Cited
Primary
Newman, John H. Letter to Fellow Priest. 1868. Print.
Darwin, Charles. The Orgin of Species. 6th ed. Chapter 7 Murray, 1872.
The Hornet Author Unknown. “A Venerable Orangoutang.” Cartoon.. Magazine. 1871.

Secondary
Cohen, Lizabeth, and Thomas A. Baily. “Darwin Disrupts the Churches.” The American
Pageant. By David M.Kennedy. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.
/572+.
Endean, Jon. “Charles Darwin and His Impact.” (2009). Rpt. In The Rice Standard.

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