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E208. Inherit the Wind. Butler Act. Said no one could teach anything other than creationism. Section 1 - unlawful to teach theory denying divine creation. Section 2 - Misdemeanor, fine $100-$500. Section 3 - State Law, March 21, 1925. Dayton,TN-(small conservative town-Bible Belt). Where
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E208 Inherit the Wind
Butler Act • Said no one could teach anything other than creationism. • Section 1- unlawful to teach theory denying divine creation. • Section 2- Misdemeanor, fine $100-$500. • Section 3- State Law, March 21, 1925.
Dayton,TN-(small conservative town-Bible Belt) Where Hillsboro- a small town Scopes Trial/Monkey Trial Where • July 1925 • Not too long ago
Charged w/ violation of the Butler Act. ACLU- Test Constitutionality of Butler Act. Bertram Cates Defendant Who Who • John Scopes • Teacher who taught theory of evolution from Darwin’s Origin of the Species • Same • Same
Approach-Fundamentalist Same Prosecutor William Jennings Bryan Matthew Harrison Brady • Bible -Literal interpretation (ex. Jonah & the Whale) • Same • Same • Orator – Famous speaker w/ personal magnetism
Defense Clarence Darrow Henry Drummond Approach -Common Sense & individual freedom • Same “Freedom” – Expression to protect individual rights & defend rights to teach evolution • Same Lawyer– From Chicago-animosity toward him. Foremost legal mind. • Same
Newspaper Reporter H. L. Mencken E. K. Hornbeck • Journalist, Baltimore Sun • Cynical humorist • Hostile to censorship • Biased against country people • Rude and insulting
Attitude of the Townspeople • Circus-Lemonade stands • Selling fans and Bibles • Nation wide publicity • Ready to defend against foreigners but curious
ACLU- American Civil Liberties Union Their part in the trial- Volunteered their services Basis for involvement- Offered money to anyone willing to challenge the law. Aids- Financial assistance, legal advice, publicity
The Final Decision • Jury – out 9 minutes • Scopes found guilty- $100 fine • Case appealed – verdict thrown out – judicial errors • Butler Act was repealed in 1969. • 4 days after trial – Bryan dies of cerebral hemorrhage during a nap after a heavy meal
Since then… • 1970 – Mississippi – last state with anti-evolution law overturned • 1968 – Epperson vs. Arkansas – Supreme Court declares anti-evolution law unconstitutional – primary purpose religious • 1987 – Edwards vs. Aguillard – strike down Louisiana law requiring biology teachers to also teach creationism • 1999- Kansas State Board of Education – removes evolution from state standardized test, essentially encouraging teachers to eliminate it from their curriculums