Changes

The trial in 1925 of John Scopes, for teaching evolution in Tennessee, was a defeat of Darwinism, and Tennessee has remained conservative ever since.  The [[ACLU]] and liberal trial lawyer Clarence Darrow brought the Scopes case in the hopes of winning a public relations and legal victory, but in fact [[William Jennings Bryan]] decisively beat them.

The trial in 1925 of John Scopes for teaching evolution in Tennessee was a defeat of Darwinism.  The [[ACLU]] and liberal trial lawyer Clarence Darrow brought the Scopes case in the hopes of winning a public relations and legal victory, but in fact [[William Jennings Bryan]] decisively beat them.

The [[ACLU]] challenged a Tennessee statute that imposed a fine for teaching in public school that man descended from more primitive life forms.  The statute did not prohibit teaching most aspects of evolution.  The textbook at issue in the case taught eugenics, including that man supposedly descended from lower life forms and that some racial groups had evolved to more advanced levels than others.

The [[ACLU]] challenged a Tennessee statute, the Butler Act, that imposed a fine for teaching in public school that man descended from more primitive life forms.  The statute did not prohibit teaching most aspects of evolution.  The textbook at issue in the case taught eugenics, including that man supposedly descended from lower life forms and that some racial groups had evolved to more advanced levels than others.

The textbook also featured the fraudulent [[Piltdown Man]].  At the time, Darwinists claimed that this and eugenics were indisputable science to be taught to students.  The Hollywood version heaped mockery on any argument that teaching evolution could be socially harmful.

The textbook also featured the fraudulent [[Piltdown Man]].  At the time, Darwinists claimed that this and eugenics were indisputable science to be taught to students.  The Hollywood version heaped mockery on any argument that teaching evolution could be socially harmful.

----

----

Bryan, a 65-year-old diabetic lacking in modern treatments, died peacefully in his sleep five days after the conclusion of the Scopes trial.  Bryan's victory in the Scopes trial was a fitting end to a principled, illustrious career.<ref> http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/side/bryan.html</ref>

Bryan, a 65-year-old diabetic lacking in modern treatments, died peacefully in his sleep five days after the conclusion of the Scopes trial.  Bryan's victory in the Scopes trial was a fitting end to a principled, illustrious career.<ref> http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/side/bryan.html</ref> Scopes was only fined $500 for his actions.

History proved Bryan to be right in opposing eugenics and the textbook used in the Scopes trial.  Bryan won the trial and kept Tennessee mostly free from the evolution indoctrination that has plagued the United States and Europe.  To this day Tennessee is among the least intrusive states in requiring evolution.  In the eyes of a liberal, pro-evolution group, Tennessee and a few similar states "fail so thoroughly to teach evolution as to render their standards totally useless."<ref>http://www.edexcellence.net/library/lerner/gsbsteits.html</ref>

History proved Bryan to be right in opposing eugenics and the textbook used in the Scopes trial.  Bryan won the trial and kept Tennessee mostly free from the evolution indoctrination that has plagued the United States and Europe.  To this day Tennessee is among the least intrusive states in requiring evolution.  In the eyes of a liberal, pro-evolution group, Tennessee and a few similar states "fail so thoroughly to teach evolution as to render their standards totally useless."<ref>http://www.edexcellence.net/library/lerner/gsbsteits.html</ref>