The great monkey trial

Book Review

The 1920's proved to be large and sorrowful times for millions of people. These persons had many large concepts which would advance mankind and still some other ones had ideas which were based upon ignorance and illogical morals. Some people were reluctant to accept new age, as they did not want to accept theories of evolution, progression, or bettering oneself. Even though they favored industrialization they fretted leaving old ways behind. The South was particularly unwilling to accept fact that world was changing and that they had to accept new morals including Charles Darwin's theories of evolution. The South even showed their reluctance to change by passing Butler act which prohibited teaching of evolution. Due to nature this law, John Scopes, teacher was put on trial teaching evolution to broaden views of his students. (Laughlin 62)

John Scopes was fifth child born to Thomas Scopes and Mary Alva Brown on August 3, 1900 in Paducah, Kentucky. Johns father was supporter of labor unions, and worked as mechanic. Thomas believed in being well rounded and taught his sons variety of subjects at home, Freya Hanson noted in her book The Scopes Monkey Trial that " My father had read to me from Charles Darwin's Origin of Species Descent of Man" (38), which was Darwin's theories on evolution. Scopes moved around frequently as child and when he graduated high school in Salem, Illinois William Jennings Bryan spoke at his graduation. Ironically, Bryan would soon be his prosecutor in Scopes Trial. Scopes went to college and took wide variety of classes. (Bernabo 12)

Also Darwin had noted that man was linked to monkey very closely which South just flat out rejected, having such strong religious beliefs. Darwin's theory had been around for many years, originating in 1859 and many people already accepted it except south. The South was so uptight about teaching of evolution that it became unlawful "to teach any theory that denies story of Divine Creation of man as taught in bible and to teach instead that man has descended from lower order of animals" (Grant 148). There would also be fine instituted of no less than one hundred dollars and no more than five hundred for each offense.

The ACLU also played major role in trial. Settle stated in her book that ACLU had put out an article in newspapers stating that “If any teacher would agree to let him be arrested under act, they would provide financial support, publicity, and best legal defense in country" (36). They were backbone of trial. They had their own outlooks and they liked to be discoverd. Even though organization was located in New York they were active throughout country.

They conveyed out all that they had promised and Edward Larson composed in his publication "The Scopes test" that "The ACLU assisted set stage for display test in Dayton not only with confrontational procedures of encouraging free talk but also by its firm pledge to fight back rights of coordinated work" (68). The ACLU ...