The early 20th century in America was marked by significant cultural clashes, and few were as dramatic and enduring as the debate surrounding the theory of evolution. Developed by figures like Charles Darwin, evolution challenged traditional beliefs about creation and humanity’s place in the universe, sparking fervent opposition in many communities.
In Tennessee, this anti-evolution sentiment culminated in the Butler Act of 1925. Proposed by John W. Butler, a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, the act criminalized the teaching of evolution in public schools. It swiftly passed, almost unanimously, reflecting the strong prevailing views in the state at the time. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a newly formed organization dedicated to defending civil liberties, immediately recognized the Butler Act as a challenge to academic freedom and offered to contest its legality in court.
John Scopes: The Reluctant Defendant
The now-famous John Scopes Trial, often referred to as the “Scopes Monkey Trial,” ironically began as a local publicity initiative in Dayton, Tennessee. Seeking to draw attention to their town, local businessmen, including a school superintendent and a lawyer, saw the ACLU’s offer as an opportunity. They approached John Scopes, a high school science teacher, and asked if he would be willing to admit to teaching evolution, thereby setting up a test case against the Butler Act.
Scopes, though uncertain if he had explicitly taught evolution, knew he had used educational materials that included the concept. He taught physics and mathematics, not biology, but he was personally convinced by evolutionary theory. The next day, the local press announced Scopes’s indictment for violating the Butler Act, and Dayton telegraphed the ACLU to request their legal assistance. Despite initial criticism from the Tennessee press, who accused Dayton of staging a publicity stunt, the stage was set for a landmark legal battle.
William Jennings Bryan: Champion of Fundamentalism
The prosecution’s case gained immense weight when William Jennings Bryan volunteered to join the legal team. Bryan, a three-time presidential candidate and a prominent figure in American politics, was already a leading voice in the anti-evolution movement. He had been instrumental in creating national controversy around the teaching of evolution, making his name synonymous with the fight against Darwinism and for a literal interpretation of the Bible. His involvement instantly elevated the Scopes Trial from a local affair to a national spectacle, pitting traditional religious beliefs against modern scientific thought.
Clarence Darrow: Defender of Science and Free Thought
Initially, author H.G. Wells was considered to lead the defense for evolution, but he declined. It was journalist H.L. Mencken who suggested Clarence Darrow, a renowned attorney famous for his sharp intellect and defense of progressive causes, should take on Scopes’s defense. Darrow, known for his recent controversial defense in the Leopold and Loeb murder case, was initially hesitant due to his impending retirement. However, upon learning of Bryan’s involvement, Darrow, a staunch agnostic and a leading member of the ACLU, decided to take the case.
Darrow saw the Scopes Trial as an opportunity to challenge what he viewed as religious fundamentalism and to defend intellectual freedom. He aimed to expose what he considered the narrow interpretations of the Bible and to champion the cause of scientific inquiry. Remarkably, it was the only instance in his distinguished career where Darrow offered his legal services pro bono, underscoring the personal significance he attached to the case. The clash between Bryan and Darrow, two legal titans with diametrically opposed worldviews, promised to be a central drama of the trial.
The “Monkey Trial” Takes Center Stage
The Scopes Trial quickly became sensationalized as the “Monkey Trial,” a moniker that reflected the popular misunderstanding and caricature of evolutionary theory as claiming humans descended directly from monkeys. The trial became a media circus, drawing national and international attention.
A large crowd gathers outside the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, during the Scopes Trial in July 1925. The John Scopes Trial captured national attention, becoming a symbol of the conflict between modern science and religious fundamentalism in America.
Bryan arrived in Dayton to a hero’s welcome, greeted by cheering crowds and eager to engage in public speeches against evolution. He positioned himself not just as a prosecutor but as a defender of biblical truth against what he saw as dangerous scientific ideas. In contrast, Darrow’s arrival was much more subdued, reflecting his less populist approach and focus on legal strategy.
Trial Proceedings and Darrow’s Strategy
The trial opened in a packed courtroom, filled with spectators eager to witness the anticipated showdown. Despite the serious legal and philosophical issues at stake, a carnival-like atmosphere pervaded Dayton, with vendors and games adding to the spectacle.
The defense, led by Darrow, aimed to demonstrate the scientific validity of evolution, while the prosecution concentrated on upholding the Butler Act as a legitimate expression of Tennessee’s educational standards. Darrow adopted an aggressive approach, planning to waive the defense’s closing argument to prevent Bryan from delivering his prepared summation.
Darrow’s opening statement was a powerful and passionate address, considered by many to be a highlight of his career. He argued forcefully that the Butler Act was unconstitutional because it promoted a specific religious viewpoint, violating the separation of church and state. He spoke for over two hours, laying out the defense’s core arguments.
Bryan on the Stand: A Dramatic Turning Point
A pivotal moment occurred when Darrow made the audacious move of calling Bryan himself to the witness stand as an expert on the Bible. This unexpected tactic stunned the courtroom. Darrow subjected Bryan to a rigorous cross-examination, probing his literal interpretation of the Bible and challenging his understanding of science.
Clarence Darrow cross-examines William Jennings Bryan during the Scopes Trial. This dramatic confrontation, where Darrow questioned Bryan’s literal interpretation of the Bible, became a defining moment of the trial and highlighted the clash between modernism and fundamentalism.
Darrow skillfully led Bryan to admit his limited knowledge of science and inconsistencies in his literal interpretation of biblical events. This public grilling significantly undermined Bryan’s authority and exposed the difficulties of reconciling a strict, literal reading of the Bible with modern scientific knowledge.
Although the judge later ordered Bryan’s testimony to be stricken from the record, its impact was undeniable. Recognizing that the legal outcome was predetermined in favor of the Butler Act, and to prevent Bryan from delivering a triumphant closing speech, Darrow conceded and suggested that Scopes be found guilty to expedite the proceedings. The jury deliberated for only nine minutes before delivering a guilty verdict, and Scopes was fined a symbolic $100.
Aftermath and Enduring Legacy
Despite the guilty verdict, both sides claimed victory in the court of public opinion. The Butler Act remained in place, and similar anti-evolution laws persisted in some states. However, the Scopes Trial had a profound cultural impact. It exposed the tensions between science and religion in American society and brought the debate about evolution into the national spotlight.
Bryan died just days after the trial, and some attributed his death to the stress and humiliation of Darrow’s cross-examination, although this is debated. Scopes, despite being convicted, became a symbol of intellectual freedom. He left Dayton, pursued graduate studies in geology at the University of Chicago, and went on to have a career as a petroleum engineer.
Poster for the 1960 film “Inherit the Wind,” a fictionalized dramatization of the Scopes Trial. The film, starring Spencer Tracy and Fredric March, helped to solidify the trial’s place in popular culture and continues to spark discussions about science, religion, and intellectual freedom.
The Scopes Trial’s legacy extends far beyond the courtroom. The play and film “Inherit the Wind,” a fictionalized account of the trial, have kept the story alive in popular culture, continually prompting reflection on the enduring conflict between science and faith, and the importance of free thought and academic freedom. Even today, debates about the teaching of evolution and the role of religion in public education continue, demonstrating the lasting relevance of the John Scopes Trial as a pivotal moment in American history.
Sources
Summer For The Gods. Edward J. Larson. The Legend of the Scopes Trial. Slate. A Witness To The Scopes Trial. Scientific American. The Scopes Trial (1925). University of Minnesota Law Library. State of Tennessee v. Scopes. ACLU. Professors in Florida are feeling the chill from DeSantis’ education legislation. Miami Herald.
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