Most people are familiar with the Scopes “Monkey Trial” held in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee. High school teacher John Scopes was put on trial for teaching evolution.
The case drew national attention — which was exactly what city leaders wanted when they set up the whole thing. It was a PR stunt.
Tennessee was one of three states that passed a law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in schools. The ACLU ran ads looking for a test case.
The leaders of Dayton were willing — they even asked Scopes his permission before prosecuting him. He wasn’t even the full-time biology teacher. He was a football coach and subbed.
Scopes wasn’t even sure he’d taught evolution, but he did know that the textbooks included it. He recruited students to testify against him.
The leaders met with Scopes at Robinson’s Drug Store and once everyone agreed, he was handed a warrant. He left to go play a tennis match.
Defense attorney Clarence Darrow didn’t want Scopes acquitted — he wanted him convicted so the case could be appealed to a higher court (it was the only case Darrow ever did for free).
Williams Jennings Bryan worked for the prosecution. Scopes was convicted, but got off on a technicality. Scopes didn’t teach again after the trial — he earned a master’s degree in geology and worked for oil companies.
Sources:
History.com
Biography.com
The Greatest Stories Never Told by Rick Beyer
Another good one, Michael. Thanks.
thank you!
And now we know the rest of the story.
Thanks
Thanks for reading!