Scopes Trial

The Scopes Trial, officially known as the State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, took place in 1925 and centered on the teaching of evolution in schools. Science teacher John Scopes was charged with violating Tennessee's Butler Act, which prohibited teaching human evolution. The trial became a national sensation, pitting proponents of evolution, including lawyer Clarence Darrow, against proponents of creationism, represented by William Jennings Bryan. Ultimately, Scopes was convicted, but the trial highlighted the broader cultural clash between science and religion, influencing educational policies and debates over academic freedom in the United States.