Module 3: Scopes Monkey Trial

The Scopes Monkey Trial

The Scopes Monkey Trial, held in Dayton, Tennessee, in 1925, was one of the most iconic moments in the culture wars between fundamentalism and modernity in early 20th-century America. The trial revolved around the arrest of John T. Scopes, a high school biology teacher who had violated Tennessee's Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools. The case pitted the scientific theory of evolution, championed by Charles Darwin, against the biblical interpretation of creation upheld by religious conservatives. Fundamentalists, who adhered to a literal interpretation of the Bible, viewed the teaching of evolution as a direct challenge to Christian doctrine and the moral fabric of society. They believed that accepting Darwin’s ideas would undermine the authority of the Bible and encourage moral decay.

For many fundamentalists, the trial was not just about one teacher's actions but a broader cultural battle. The 1920s were a time of rapid change, with modern ideas about science, technology, and social norms beginning to challenge traditional religious values. In this context, the Scopes trial symbolized the conflict between religious conservatism and the forces of modernity. The trial was a dramatic public showdown, with two famous figures representing opposing sides: William Jennings Bryan, a devout Christian and three-time presidential candidate, who argued for the Bible’s literal truth, and Clarence Darrow, a renowned defense attorney who advocated for the teaching of evolution and scientific progress. The trial garnered national attention, as it highlighted the growing divide between rural, conservative America and the more liberal, urban centers that embraced scientific advances and modernist ideas.

Despite the defense team's best efforts, the trial ultimately resulted in Scopes being found guilty and fined $100, although the verdict was later overturned on a technicality. The trial itself, however, did little to settle the debate over evolution in American schools. While Bryan and the fundamentalist movement scored a legal victory, the trial also highlighted the increasing influence of modern science and secular ideas. The Scopes trial became a pivotal moment in the history of American culture, as it marked a turning point in the public discourse about the relationship between religion and science. While fundamentalism remained a powerful force in rural and conservative regions, the trial made it clear that modernity, with its embrace of scientific inquiry and the theory of evolution, was an intellectual force that would continue to shape American society.