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The '''Scopes Trial''', sometimes known as the "Scopes monkey trial," took place in the small hill town of Dayton, in east [[Tennessee]] in 1925. It was a test case brought to challenge to the state's Butler Act which prohibited public schools from teaching the theory that man had evolved from more primitive life forms. The willing defendant, high school teacher [[John Scopes]], had indeed used the textbook ''[[A Civic Biology]]'' that included a unit on evolution. He was duly convicted, although this was later overturned on a technicality.  The trial was a national media sensation, pitting evolution versus the Bible.

The '''Scopes Trial''', sometimes known as the '''"monkey trial,"''' took place in the small hill town of Dayton, in east [[Tennessee]] in 1925. It was a test case brought to challenge to the state's Butler Act which prohibited public schools from teaching the theory that man had evolved from more primitive life forms. The willing defendant, high school teacher [[John Scopes]], had indeed used the textbook ''[[A Civic Biology]]'' that included a unit on evolution. He was duly convicted, although this was later overturned on a technicality.  The trial was a national media sensation, pitting evolution versus the Bible.

== Publicity Motivation ==

== Publicity Motivation ==

The impetus for the Scopes trial began in a meeting among town leaders at a drugstore in Dayton, Tennessee, in response to a newspaper advertisement placed by the American Civil Liberties Union ([[ACLU]]) offering to provide legal services to anyone willing to be prosecuted under the Butler Act.<ref>{{hnb|Larson|2006}}, {{hnb|Linder|2002}}.  See also {{hnb|Coulter|2006}}</ref>  Town leaders agreed that a trial would provide publicity to the town,<ref>{{hnb|Larson|2006}}</ref> whose population had dwindled to 1,800.<ref>{{hnb|Linder|2002}}</ref>  The town leaders found a willing defendant in John Scopes, a gym teacher and football coach who also substituted (sometimes as a biology teacher), though Scopes could not recall ever teaching evolution.<ref>{{hnb|Larson|2006}}.  See also {{hnb|Coulter|2006}}</ref>  John Scopes told the town leaders, "If you can prove that I've taught evolution and that I can qualify as a defendant, then I'll be willing to stand trial."

The impetus for the Scopes trial began in a meeting among town leaders at a drugstore in Dayton, Tennessee, in response to a newspaper advertisement placed by the American Civil Liberties Union ([[ACLU]]) offering to provide legal services to anyone willing to be prosecuted under the Butler Act.<ref>{{hnb|Larson|2006}}, {{hnb|Linder|2002}}.  See also {{hnb|Coulter|2006}}</ref>  Town leaders agreed that a trial would provide publicity to the town,<ref>{{hnb|Larson|2006}}</ref> whose population had dwindled to 1,800.<ref>{{hnb|Linder|2002}}</ref>  The town leaders found a willing defendant in John Scopes, a gym teacher and football coach who also substituted (sometimes as a biology teacher), though Scopes could not recall ever teaching evolution.<ref>{{hnb|Larson|2006}}.  See also {{hnb|Coulter|2006}}</ref>  John Scopes told the town leaders, "If you can prove that I've taught evolution and that I can qualify as a defendant, then I'll be willing to stand trial."

The [[ACLU]] challenged a Tennessee statute, the Butler Act, that imposed a fine for teaching in government schools 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, ''[[A Civic Biology]]'',  taught evolution, stating that man was descended from lower life forms.   

The [[ACLU]] challenged a Tennessee statute, the Butler Act, that imposed a fine for teaching in government schools 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, ''[[A Civic Biology]]'',  taught evolution, stating that man was descended from lower life forms.   

Bryan quoted for the court how Darrow had previously claimed that murder defendants Leopold and Loeb were driven to crime by what they were taught, which was [[Nietzsche]]'s atheistic philosophy.  Bryan quoted Darrow as saying that "Is there any blame attached because somebody took Nietzsche's philosophy seriously and fashioned his life on it? ... The university would be more to blame than he is. ...  Your honor, it is hardly fair to hang a 19-year-old boy for the philosophy that was taught him at the university."

Bryan quoted for the court how Darrow had previously claimed that murder defendants Leopold and Loeb were driven to crime by what they were taught, which was [[Nietzsche]]'s atheistic philosophy.  Bryan quoted Darrow as saying that "Is there any blame attached because somebody took Nietzsche's philosophy seriously and fashioned his life on it? ... The university would be more to blame than he is. ...  Your honor, it is hardly fair to hang a 19-year-old boy for the philosophy that was taught him at the university."

Tennessee continued to downplay evolution in its schools until 2005.<ref>http://www.edexcellence.net/institute/publication/publication.cfm?id=352&pubsubid=1169#1169</ref>

Tennessee continued to downplay evolution in its schools until 2005.<ref>http://www.edexcellence.net/institute/publication/publication.cfm?id=352&pubsubid=1169#1169</ref>

==Memory==

==Memory==

<references/>

<references/>

==Sources==

==Sources==

*{{Harvard reference

*{{Harvard reference

  | Surname    = Coulter

  | Surname    = Coulter

  | ID          = ISBN 978-0465075102

  | ID          = ISBN 978-0465075102

  }}

  }}

*{{Harvard reference

*{{Harvard reference

  | Surname    = Linder  

  | Surname    = Linder  

  | URL        = http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/evolut.htm

  | URL        = http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/evolut.htm

}} Retrieved on 05-11-2007

}} Retrieved on 05-11-2007

[[category:evolution]]

[[category:evolution]]

[[category:creationism]]

[[category:creationism]]