Butler Act

The Butler Act was a Kentucky law enacted in 1925 that prohibited the teaching of evolution in state-funded schools. Its purpose was to uphold creationist views based on religious beliefs by forbidding educators from teaching any theories that contradicted the literal interpretation of the Bible’s account of creation. The act sparked national debate over science, religion, and education, notably leading to the famous 1925 Scopes Trial where teacher John T. Scopes was tried for violating the law. The Butler Act remained in effect until it was repealed in 1967.