Scopes Trial In American History

Jessica Brazeau Professor. Kraynak Reason, Faith, and Politics 3.5.2023 Prompt 1: The Strengths of Sam Harris’s Argument against Francis Collins and His Beliefs In his article, “The Strange Case of Francis Collins”, Sam Harris attacks Francis Collins’ belief in theistic evolution as well as his appointment to the head of the National Institute of Health(NIH). Francis Collins believes in theistic evolution or the idea that God guides evolution and the development of the world. While Collins maintains that he can be both a scientist and devout believer, Harris argues his religious views may impede his ability to run the NIH.

The last argument that made me not want to vote to convict John Scopes is the argument he made that religion has caused people to have different opinions. But some things should be between an individual , his maker or his God. Darrow says that the constitutional convention should leave the questions of religion between man and what he worships. Questions of religion shouldn’t be brought into the classrooms of

“This man wishes to be accorded the same privilege as a sponge! He wishes to think!” (Lawrence & Lee, 1955, p. 94). This quote from Inherit the Wind represents the heart of the controversy known as the Scopes Trial in 1925. This historical court proceeding still affects us today, yet few know much about it.

His thoughts made him for who he was and was the cause of the trial. The Scopes Monkey Trial was when a teacher, Bertram Cates, teaches the theory of evolution illegally in a town of creationist. Bertram Cates wasn’t allowed to teach evolution because it was only a theory then. Henry Drummond was Bertram Cates lawyer, free of charge because Henry Drummond believed that everyone had the right to think. He believed that this was important because for people could be diverse.

Tricky Ambition Ambition can be a very tricky thing. Too much ambition can sometimes be bad. However if someone uses ambition in the correct way, it can be a very good thing. In the book Mississippi Trial, 1955, Hiram, the main character, goes through phases where he has the right amount of ambition and times when he has too much. When Hiram decided to get to the bottom of what happened to Emmett Till that was the correct amount of ambition and determination.

L. Mencken's article "The Scopes Trial: Aftermath," he states how, while it may be the right of every person to hold the beliefs/religion/superstitions they may choose for themselves, they have NO right to force their own viewpoints and beliefs onto others, as that infringes upon their right to have different beliefs (Mencken). This pointed out to the American public the unconstitutional actions of the fundamentalist South, and many realized it was time for, at least a small, change. The effect the Scopes Trial had on education in America is clear. Before the trial, it was the commonly held belief that evolution should not be taught in the public school system because of its undermining of the religious concept of creation. This famous court case was really the first time anyone had publicly second-guessed their deeply held fundamental beliefs (such as the prosecuting attorney, William Jennings Bryan).

The Scopes Monkey Trial was an important event in history that still holds resonance today. The South during the 1920’s was still recovering from Reconstruction after the war. Which means that the South was not in favor of any National attention that could possibly be avoided. This case being in the South as well as being such a controversial topic, created a separation between the newer town of Dayton (did not mind attention) and the state of Tennessee(did not want attention). Out of which came an array of views on whether this trial should even be held or not.

Over the course of American history, various court cases have significantly impacted the countries future. Two court cases that greatly shaped the future of America are the Scopes trial, by determining boundaries between evolution and the bible, and the Plessy versus Ferguson trial, by affecting racial discrimination towards blacks. The Scopes trial shaped the future of America by examining what public schools have a right to teach, and specifically debating the boundaries between education and religion. After World War I, a religious belief in the priority of the Bible over all human knowledge became popular in society, while Darwin’s theory of evolution was seen as a threat.

The Scopes Trial John Scopes, a high school biology teacher, who found himself at the center of one of the 20th century’s most famous life-changing court hearings; The Scopes Trial. It was also known as the Monkey Trial, where biology teacher John Scopes was prosecuted for teaching evolution in a public school located in Tennessee (Kemper). Prior to the trial, there was a anti-evolution law that was passed making Scopes actions illegal, this was known as The Butler Act. As a matter of fact, when Scopes went against this law it was the first step in moving towards modernism. As well as, causing America to move away from traditional values.

Anti-evolution in the classroom The Scopes Trial of 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee put the controversial issue of evolution vs creationism on front stage for the United States to watch. After The Scopes Trial, anti-evolutionists were really trying to stop evolution in the classroom. Up until the The Scopes Trial, generations of people were following in the footsteps of their elders, adopted their religious beliefs. But after the trial, there came a period of modernization and questioning the common standards.

The trial of Leo Frank in 1913 was an important turning point in the history of the law in the United States. The murder of Mary Phagan, who was just 13 years old at the time of her death, was the primary focus of the trial. Mary's body was discovered in the cellar of the National Pencil Company in Atlanta, Georgia. The plant superintendent, Leo Frank, was accused of murdering the victim and was ultimately convicted of the crime; however, the trial was tainted by charges of anti-Semitism and mob interference. The outcome of the trial would have significant repercussions for American society as a whole, and in particular for the civil rights of Jews and other underrepresented groups.

At the time, certain events were taking place that allowed the rise of religious fundamentalism. Larson says, “These scientific developments helped set the stage in the early 1920s for a massive crusade by fundamentalists against teaching evolution in public schools, which culminated in the 1925 trial of John Scopes. ”13 Developments such as the increase of public schools, new fossil discoveries that strengthened the evolution argument, and the rise of religious fundamentalism all helped strengthen the case of anti-evolution advocates. These anti-evolution movements lead by religious leaders such as William Jennings Bryan argued that the teaching of evolution should be banned in public schools since it was the will of the majority, even if freedom of speech was compromised. The ACLU eventually advertised for a teacher to challenge the law that banned evolution.

This conflict was exemplified by the trial of John Scopes was a high school science teacher who was accused of violating Tennessee’s Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in

It confirms the already assumed. During the court trial, Dr. Jones was asked “From your conversations and examination of Perry Edward Smith, do you have an opinion as to whether he knew right from wrong at the time of the offense involved in this action?” (296). The doctor replies with a simple no. I strongly disagree what the doctor decides to reply. He claims he has no opinion because of Perry having no opinion.

The Scopes Monkey trial was one the biggest and most influential court cases of all time. John Scopes was a public high school teacher in dayton tennessee who was arrested and tried for breaking the butlers law. Passed in 1925 it made teaching evolution in any schools and colleges in the state of Tennessee illegal. This was because evolution challenges the idea of creationism which was the popular religion in the tennessee. this was a huge problem because it was written in the constitution that you must separate church and state.