Changes

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. Unfortunately, though Bryan legally won, the case was viewed as a moral victory for evolution supporters.

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, 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 [[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.

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.

Judge--All right.

Judge--All right.

…

…

Bryan--Those [the audience] are the people whom you insult.

Bryan--Those [the audience] are the people whom you insult.

Darrow--You insult every man of science and learning in the world because he does believe in your fool religion.

Darrow--You insult every man of science and learning in the world because he does believe in your fool religion.

....

....

Darrow: Wait until you get to me [N.B. this apparently refers to Darrow's agreement to be a witness]. Do you know anything about how many people there were in Egypt 3,500 years ago, or how many people there were in China 5,000 years ago?

Darrow: Wait until you get to me [N.B. this apparently refers to Darrow's agreement to be a witness]. Do you know anything about how many people there were in Egypt 3,500 years ago, or how many people there were in China 5,000 years ago?

Bryan --No.

Bryan --No.

Darrow--Have you ever tried to find out?

Darrow--Have you ever tried to find out?

 

Bryan--No, sir. You are the first man I ever heard of who has been in interested in it. (Laughter in audience.)

Bryan--No, sir. You are the first man I ever heard of who has been in interested in it.  

 

Darrow--Mr. Bryan, am I the first man you ever heard of who has been interested in the age of human societies and primitive man?

Darrow--Mr. Bryan, am I the first man you ever heard of who has been interested in the age of human societies and primitive man?

Bryan--You are the first man I ever heard speak of the number of people at those different periods.

Bryan--You are the first man I ever heard speak of the number of people at those different periods.

Darrow--Where have you lived all your life?

Darrow--Where have you lived all your life?

 

Bryan--Not near you. (Laughter and applause in audience.)

Bryan--Not near you.  

Darrow tried again and again to trap Bryan, but struck out each time.  A later exchange ended, once again, with the audience laughing at Darrow:

Darrow tried again and again to trap Bryan, but struck out each time.  A later exchange ended, once again, with the audience laughing at Darrow:

Darrow--I will read it to you from the Bible: "And the Lord God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life." Do you think that is why the serpent is compelled to crawl upon its belly?

Darrow--I will read it to you from the Bible: "And the Lord God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life." Do you think that is why the serpent is compelled to crawl upon its belly?

Bryan--I believe that.

Bryan--I believe that.

Darrow--Have you any idea how the snake went before that time?

Darrow--Have you any idea how the snake went before that time?

Bryan--No, sir.

Bryan--No, sir.

Darrow--Do you know whether he walked on his tail or not?

Darrow--Do you know whether he walked on his tail or not?

 

Bryan--No, sir. I have no way to know. (Laughter in audience).

Bryan--No, sir. I have no way to know.  

Darrow ended his cross-examination weaker than when he began -- an enormous defeat for any trial attorney.

Darrow ended his cross-examination weaker than when he began -- an enormous defeat for any trial attorney.