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Scopes monkey trial assignment
Thesis on the scopes monkey trial
Thesis on the scopes monkey trial
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The Media's Impact on the Scopes Monkey Trial
The 1920’s were a period of transition for America. The culture of society
was quickly adapting to many new ideas and beliefs. Traditional schools of thought were
gradually being replaced with new technology and knowledge. The changes taking place
were the source of much conflict, as many historical events of the twenties can illustrate. One such event is the Scopes “Monkey” Trial. From our research we discovered that the trial pitted Modernists against Traditionalists, Fundamentalists against Evolutionists, and the Country against the City. However, these conflicts would not have been brought to the attention of the American public if the media had not been so engrossed in the event. That idea helped in formulating our research question: Why did the media choose to get so involved in such a localized, small town affair?
In order to answer this question we decided to examine the aforementioned
conflicts to try to understand why the media showed such strong interest in the trial. We found that the media recognized this case as a perfect way to bring these conflicts to the forefront of the American mind. By doing this, the ideas and beliefs of modernists could be showcased and possibly validated. This was a way to indirectly force change and
progress in America. To demonstrate this point, the socio-cultural conflicts need to be
investigated and related to the Scopes trial.
Before looking at these issues, some background is necessary. The whole
controversy originated when the Butler Law was passed in 1925 prohibiting the teaching
of the Evolution theory in state funded schools (Scopes and Presley 52). When the
American Civil Liberties Union discovered the law, they put out a press release requesting the cooperation of a Tennessee teacher in a “friendly test case” of the law (DeCamp 8). Dayton resident George Rappleyea and some friends came up with the idea to have the case in Dayton and decided to ask John Scopes to be the teacher to test the law.
Scopes was a science teacher at Dayton High School. However, he only
taught Biology for two weeks as a substitute at the end of the school year. When
Rappleyea asked Scopes if he taught the theory of evolution, he said he didn’t really
remember. Nonetheless, Scopes accepted the offer(despite some initial opposition), and
the Scopes “Monkey” Trial saga began.
Why was the case brought? Give a detailed summary of the factors that led to the case (250 words).
...his seemingly routine case of fornication and premarital pregnancy proved to be significant for early American legal history. The unfolding of this story and the legal changes that it brought about makes evident that by the end of the seventeenth century, The Eastern Shore had shaped a distinct legal culture. The characters involved in each case also revealed the extent the powerful players were able to shape the law to their own self-interests. The goal of the powers to be was to protect property interests, protect personal reputation and liberty, and to maintain social order.
Sam Sheppard was attacked by the media's unethical practices so much during his trial that journalism had set new boundaries to limit the power of the press following the final verdict. Because of the way that the media went about getting stories for their papers and the way stories were written, Sheppard was released from prison. Journalism then set up new boundaries to assure that every person accused of a crime got a fair and just trial. Even though he set precedent for new practices that the media still follows, it is a shame that it took something as horrific as his wife's murder to allow the media to see just how much power they had over justice.
McKinley, Carol. "Ramsey Case Spawns Media Feeding Frenzy and Public Obsession."Fox News. N.p., 22 May 2001. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
The Scopes trial, writes Edward Larson, to most Americans embodies “the timeless debate over science and religion.” (265) Written by historians, judges, and playwrights, the history of the Scopes trial has caused Americans to perceive “the relationship between science and religion in . . . simple terms: either Darwin or the Bible was true.” (265) The road to the trial began when Tennessee passed the Butler Act in 1925 banning the teaching of evolution in secondary schools. It was only a matter of time before a young biology teacher, John T. Scopes, prompted by the ACLU tested the law. Spectators and newspapermen came from allover to witness whether science or religion would win the day. Yet below all the hype, the trial had a deeper meaning. In Summer for the Gods, Edward Larson argues that a more significant battle was waged between individual liberty and majoritarian democracy. Even though the rural fundamentalist majority legally banned teaching evolution in 1925, the rise of modernism, started long before the trial, raised a critical question for rural Americans: should they publicly impose their religious beliefs upon individuals who believed more and more in science.
The first step to fighting the obesity epidemic is education. The mayor of Manchester admits to her ignorance on the issue “I just don’t know a lot about obesity” (408 Haygood). Informing the mayor would be the first step to informing the town. Once the mayor is informed, she could speak out at community event and at schools. It is vital to have a
To begin, Isabella was the daughter of King John II of Castile. Isabella was born April 22, 1451. Ferdinand was the son of King John I of Aragon. He was born in 1452. Isabella was three years old when her father died. Henry IV, her half-brother, became king. “He named Isabella his successor.” Henry was not very fond of Ferdinand. When Isabella married Ferdinand in 1469, Henry IV withdrew his support. In 1474, Henry died; making his daughter Juana, take the throne. After the war of a succession ended in 1479, Isabella became the Queen of Castile (“Queen Isabella”). She was the Queen of Castile from 1474 to 1505. “Isabella had to fight a civil war to secure her throne. Their marriage began a 35 year joint ruling of a unified Spain, by the Catholic Monarchs” (Isaacs).
This Neighbourhood Study aims to examine the demographics of Hillingdon Primary Care Trust (HPCT) such as age, gender, ethnicity, social groups in relation to the prevention of obesity. An insight into the prevalence of obesity as well as the causes and its effects shall be evaluated. Public health strategies regarding the prevention of obesity and its effects in comparison to Government strategies shall be addressed. The nurse’s role as an educator in relation to this public health issue, strategies formulated by HPCT to prevent obesity and how it focuses on other diseases associated with obesity shall be discussed. The following section gives a definition of obesity, health education and health prevention.
The Rosenberg trial, which ended in a double execution in 1953, was one of the century's most controversial trials. It was sometimes referred to as, "the best publicized spy hunt of all times" as it came to the public eye in the time of atom-spy hysteria. Husband and wife, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, were charged with conspiracy to commit espionage. Most of the controversy surrounding this case came from mass speculation that there were influences being reinforced by behind-the-scenes pressure, mainly from the government, which was detected through much inconsistencies in testimonies and other misconduct in the court. Many shared the belief that Ethel Rosenberg expressed best as she wrote in one of her last letters before being executed, "-knowing my husband and I must be vindicated by history.
...ing him, and the expectation was that there would be a well-publicized trial rather than a brief in which Ray admitted his guilt and was sentenced.” (Clark 240)
A police officer in the British Raj, the supposedly 'unbreakable'; ruling force, was afraid. With his gun aimed at a elephant's head, he was faced with the decision to pull the trigger. That officer was George Orwell, and he writes about his experience in his short story, 'Shooting an Elephant';. To save face, he shrugged it off as his desire to 'avoid looking the fool'; (George Orwell, 283). In truth, the atmosphere of fear and pressure overwhelmed him. His inner struggle over the guilt of being involved in the subjugation of a people added to this strain, and he made a decision he would later regret enough to write this story.
One of the many excitements in the news during the late sixties was the “Chicago Seven” Trial. People read about this crazy trial and the outlandish events that took place in the courtroom, from the defendants wearing judicial robes to crude names and accusations directed towards the Judge. Who could we possibly expect to act so unruly in a place of order and justice? Why, the “Chicago Seven” of course. The events that led up to this trial all began with the Democratic Convention of 1968 which took place in Chicago, Illinois.
This public health issue does not only effect individuals but the national as a whole in regards to the health care system costs. Obesity in children "costs the health care system $14 billion per year, much which comes from public funds" (Glanz, 2008). Also, obesity is expected to cause 112,000 deaths per year in the United States(Gollust, 2014). In addition, many changes seen in the health care sy...
The quest for power is one which has been etched into the minds of men throughout history. However, it can be said that true power is not a result of one’s actions but comes from the following one’s own beliefs without being influenced by others. This principle sets up the story for Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell. The protagonist, Orwell himself, is a sub divisional police officer in Burma, a British colony. Orwell must try to find and use his inner power when he is faced with the decision of whether or not to kill an elephant which has ravaged the Burman’s homes. The state of power established through the imperialistic backdrop show that Orwell, as a colonist, should be in control. As well, the perspective and ideas given by Orwell show his true character and lessen the overall power set up for him. Lastly, the symbols shown are representations of traditional forms of power, but take on different implications in the story. In Shooting an Elephant, George Orwell uses setting, characterization and symbols to show that true power comes from following the dictates of one’s conscience.
Imperialism is often viewed as a win-lose situation. However, the characteristics of imperialism are not so simple; rather, it involves paradoxical power plays that sometimes switch the typical roles of a dominant and submissive group. In the essay “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell, the complications of imperialism are illustrated through the contradictions between the idea of his authority versus the reality of his authority.