The Scopes TrialThe Scopes TrialFact. Vs. FictionFact. Vs. Fiction

INHERIT THE WINDINHERIT THE WIND Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. LeeJerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

1955 play1955 play

Written as a response to“the threat to intellectual Written as a response to“the threat to intellectual freedom presented by the anti-communist freedom presented by the anti-communist hysteria of the McCarthy era.” “McCarthyism” = hysteria of the McCarthy era.” “McCarthyism” = Senator Joseph McCarthy’s influence through the Senator Joseph McCarthy’s influence through the House Committee on Un-American Activities House Committee on Un-American Activities (1938-1975), which peaked in the 1950s at the (1938-1975), which peaked in the 1950s at the height of anti-Communist fervorheight of anti-Communist fervor

1920s Precedents1920s Precedents

19221922 Kentucky teacher fired for teaching Kentucky teacher fired for teaching the students that the world is round.the students that the world is round.

1924 1924 North Carolina- textbook banned for North Carolina- textbook banned for having picture of a man on the same page having picture of a man on the same page as a picture of an apeas a picture of an ape

19251925 Introduced by John Butler, The Butler Introduced by John Butler, The Butler Act was a Tennessee state law that forbid Act was a Tennessee state law that forbid any teacher in a public school to teach any any teacher in a public school to teach any theory denying Biblical account of creation theory denying Biblical account of creation or asserting that a man descended from a or asserting that a man descended from a lower order (animals).lower order (animals).

World Fundamentalist Association World Fundamentalist Association (WFA)(WFA)

fundamentalism: fundamentalism: a movement in 20th a movement in 20th century Protestantism emphasizing the century Protestantism emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to strict Christian life and teachingto strict Christian life and teaching

movement to get 2/3 of states with anti-movement to get 2/3 of states with anti-evolution bills/ then make amendment to evolution bills/ then make amendment to constitution.constitution.

American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)(ACLU)

Wanted to test Tennessee lawWanted to test Tennessee law

Volunteered their services in trial

Would finance defense of any Tennessee Would finance defense of any Tennessee teacher who would test constitutionalityteacher who would test constitutionality

Offered financial assistance, legal advice, publicity

Who were involved?Who were involved? Play Name Actual NamePlay Name Actual Name Matthew Harrison Brady William Jennings Matthew Harrison Brady William Jennings

BryanBryan Henry Drummond Clarence DarrowHenry Drummond Clarence Darrow Bertram T. Cates John ScopesBertram T. Cates John Scopes E. K. Hornbeck H. L. MenckenE. K. Hornbeck H. L. Mencken Sarah Brady Mary Baird BryanSarah Brady Mary Baird Bryan Hillsboro Hillsboro Dayton, Tennessee Dayton, Tennessee

Other characters such as Rachel Brown and Other characters such as Rachel Brown and Rev. Jeremiah Brown are made up to add Rev. Jeremiah Brown are made up to add drama.drama.

The Scopes Monkey Trial—1925The Scopes Monkey Trial—1925

Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan

So, who were they anyway?So, who were they anyway?

Clarence DarrowClarence Darrow defense attorney famous for long closing

arguments just finished his successful defense of murderers just finished his successful defense of murderers

Leopold and Loeb, two 17 year old boys who Leopold and Loeb, two 17 year old boys who murdered a little kidmurdered a little kid

believed in truth and justice, even if it meant believed in truth and justice, even if it meant defending those he knew committed a crimedefending those he knew committed a crime

William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan a prosecuting lawyer with deep religious beliefsa prosecuting lawyer with deep religious beliefs ran for president 3 times (1896, 1900, and 1908)ran for president 3 times (1896, 1900, and 1908) served 2 terms in the House of Representativesserved 2 terms in the House of Representatives Secretary of State under WilsonSecretary of State under Wilson died 5 days after the trial ended. died 5 days after the trial ended.

Who were they?Who were they?

John T. ScopesJohn T. Scopes Football coach/substitute teacher in Football coach/substitute teacher in

Dayton, TennesseeDayton, Tennessee volunteered to be arrested for teaching volunteered to be arrested for teaching

evolutionevolution The goal was a trial that would The goal was a trial that would

challenge the Butler Law, or the anti-challenge the Butler Law, or the anti-evolution act.evolution act.

Who were they?Who were they? George RappalyeaGeorge Rappalyea

the man who wanted to bring the trial to Dayton the man who wanted to bring the trial to Dayton wanted to challenge the Christian Fundamentalistswanted to challenge the Christian Fundamentalists outraged when, during a funeral for a six-year-old, outraged when, during a funeral for a six-year-old,

Christian ministers condemned the boy to hell for Christian ministers condemned the boy to hell for not being baptizednot being baptized

contacted the press and the ACLU to get things contacted the press and the ACLU to get things startedstarted

sought out Scopes to be the catalyst for the trial. sought out Scopes to be the catalyst for the trial.

H.L. MenckenH.L. Mencken the the Baltimore Sun Baltimore Sun journalist who covered the trialjournalist who covered the trial Witty editorialist and opinion writerWitty editorialist and opinion writer

Dayton During the TrialDayton During the Trial

DarrowDarrow Addressing the CourtroomAddressing the Courtroom

Vocabulary Vocabulary

Atheist: one who believes that there Atheist: one who believes that there is no higher power or deity. is no higher power or deity.

Agnostic: one who is not committed Agnostic: one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a godthe nonexistence of God or a god

Beliefs in God & EvolutionBeliefs in God & Evolution

According to the Pew Forum's U.S. According to the Pew Forum's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey in 2007 (with Religious Landscape Survey in 2007 (with a representative sample of 35,000 a representative sample of 35,000 Americans), only 1.6% of Americans Americans), only 1.6% of Americans reported being atheists and 2.4% reported reported being atheists and 2.4% reported being agnostic (an additional .8% “didn’t being agnostic (an additional .8% “didn’t know” or “refused” to answer).know” or “refused” to answer).

Beliefs in God & EvolutionBeliefs in God & Evolution

Beliefs in God & EvolutionBeliefs in God & Evolution• A humble question: if the vast majority of

Americans believe in God (more than 95%) and only 16% believe evolution is independent of God, why shouldn’t intelligent design be allowed in public schools as an alternative or compatible theory to evolution?

• Who are we kidding? This is what Americans believe.