The Scopes Trial

Andy Avalos, DeMarcus Erve, Gabriel Chambers (Group 3)

Objective

Objective: Students will learn about the Scopes Trial, what it is and
how it's important to the 1920s.
 Vocab
Butler Act - prohibiting the teaching of the Evolution Theory in all the Universities, and all
other public schools of Tennessee

Theory of Evolution - a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals
evolutionism, theory of organic evolution scientific theory

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) - The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit
organization founded in 1920 to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties
guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
What is the Scopes Trial
The Scopes Trial was a trial that a teacher named John Thomas Scopes was put in for
teaching Darwin's Theory of Evolution. John Scopes broke the Butler Act when he
taught his high school students human evolution and since he broke the Butler Act
he was put into trial. This trial took place from July 10 - July 21 in 1925.

In the trial Clarence Darrow was defending John Scopes

while William Jennings Bryan was the prosecutor.
 Scopes Trial Cont.
The trial started out by Darrow giving a speech to defend Scopes and then
interrogating Bryan. From there t turned into a battle of words between Darrow and
Bryan. Since the trial was taking to long, Darrow suggested that his own client (John
Scopes) should be found guilty. Because of this Bryan didn't make a closing
statement. John Scopes lost the trial and he was fined $100.
Why is it important

The scopes trial is important because it made people aware of the ACLU (American
Civil Liberties Union). Roughly 1000 people and more than 100 newspapers packed
the courtroom daily. This was John Scopes intent to gain national attention to not
only him but the ACLU.
Critical Thinking Question

Do you thinks Scopes was doing the right thing by teaching the theory of evolution?
Exit Ticket

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Questions?
 Resources
“ACLU History: The Scopes ‘Monkey Trial.” American Civil Liberties Union. 2010.
https://www.aclu.org/other/aclu-history-scopes-monkey-trial

Duignan Dave. “American Civil Liberties Union-American Organization.” Encyclopedia Britannica. May 5, 2017.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-Civil-Liberties-Union

History.com Editors. “Scopes Trial”. History. A&E Television Networks . November 17 2017.
https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/scopes-trial