Changes

Intellectuals began expanding the "survival of the fittest" theory of evolution to social issues, and advocated that the "unfit" should be eliminated from mankind just as Darwin claimed they were naturally eliminated from the animal world.  This led to the "eugenics" movement, which taught that those with the highest IQ or other advantageous traits should be favored, and those with low IQ or undesirable traits should be prevented from having children, or even eliminated themselves.  These ideas became very popular in England and Germany.  Planned Parenthood, which does abortions today, was founded by a believer in eugenics: Margaret Sanger.  One of her many offensive views was that government approval should be required before a married couple can have a child.

Intellectuals began expanding the "survival of the fittest" theory of evolution to social issues, and advocated that the "unfit" should be eliminated from mankind just as Darwin claimed they were naturally eliminated from the animal world.  This led to the "eugenics" movement, which taught that those with the highest IQ or other advantageous traits should be favored, and those with low IQ or undesirable traits should be prevented from having children, or even eliminated themselves.  These ideas became very popular in England and Germany.  Planned Parenthood, which does abortions today, was founded by a believer in eugenics: Margaret Sanger.  One of her many offensive views was that government approval should be required before a married couple can have a child.

In the United States, the eugenics movement and social Darwinism found its biggest following at universities like Harvard, which had already been drifting away from their Christian roots.  Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., who served on the High Court for over 30 years, studied at Harvard and became a big believer in Darwinism.  Previously he had fought against slavery in the Civil War, but then he abandoned his youthful morality and instead embraced the Darwinian utilitarianism, including eugenics.  Justices Holmes thereby moved away from morality and logic, and towards his own view of the teachings of "experience".  "The life of the law has not been logic, but experience," he famously said.

In the United States, the eugenics movement and social Darwinism found its biggest following at universities like Harvard, which had already been drifting away from their Christian roots.  Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., who served on the High Court for over 30 years, studied at Harvard and became a big believer in Darwinism.  Previously he had fought against slavery in the Civil War, but then he abandoned his youthful morality and instead embraced the Darwinian utilitarianism, including eugenics.  Justices Holmes thereby moved away from morality and logic, and towards his own view of the teachings of "experience".  "The life of the law has not been logic, but experience," Holmes declared.

The State of Virginia implemented eugenics by forcibly sterilizing a woman without her knowledge or consent, rendering her incapable of having children, because she supposedly had a low IQ (actually, historians now say her IQ was not very low by today's standards).  A lawyer sued on her behalf, and the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court.  Justice Holmes wrote the decision, in which he declared, "Three generations of imbeciles are enough."  ''Buck v. Bell'', 274 U.S. 200 (1927).  Every other Justice, except one, agreed with this horrific decision, and it is considered one of the worst decisions in American history.

The State of Virginia implemented eugenics by forcibly sterilizing a woman without her knowledge or consent, rendering her incapable of having children, because she supposedly had a low IQ (actually, historians now say her IQ was not very low by today's standards).  A lawyer sued on her behalf, and the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court.  Justice Holmes wrote the decision, in which he declared, "Three generations of imbeciles are enough."  ''Buck v. Bell'', 274 U.S. 200 (1927).  Every other Justice, except one, agreed with this horrific decision, and it is considered one of the worst decisions in American history.

The climax of the trial occurred when Bryan agreed to take the witness stand himself (which is unusual for an attorney) in order to answer Darrow's best questions, if Darrow likewise took the witness stand to answer Bryan's questions.  Darrow agreed, and Bryan took the witness stand before a huge audience that gathered to hear one of the finest orators in American history.

The climax of the trial occurred when Bryan agreed to take the witness stand himself (which is unusual for an attorney) in order to answer Darrow's best questions, if Darrow likewise took the witness stand to answer Bryan's questions.  Darrow agreed, and Bryan took the witness stand before a huge audience that gathered to hear one of the finest orators in American history.

This "cross-examination" of Bryan by Darrow included the following:<ref>http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/day7.htm</ref>

This cross-examination of Bryan by Darrow included the following:<ref>http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/day7.htm</ref>

:Bryan--These gentlemen have not had much chance--they did not come here to try this case. They came here to try revealed religion. I am here to defend it and they can ask me any question they please.  

:Bryan--These gentlemen have not had much chance--they did not come here to try this case. They came here to try revealed religion. I am here to defend it and they can ask me any question they please.