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How Did The Scopes Monkey Trial Affect Society

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The Scopes “Monkey Trial” changed the way science and evolution are taught in America’s school systems today. The trial came about when John Scopes, an algebra and science teacher, taught evolution as a plausible theory while filling in for a biology teacher at Rhea County Central High School in Dayton, Tennessee. The action went against Tennessee’s “Butler Act,” which prohibited teachers in public schools to “teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man descended from a lower order of animals.” Scopes, along with others in the community, wanted to change the law so that students could be taught Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, and the matter was taken to court. The …show more content…

On January 14, 1927, the Tennessee State Supreme Court in Nashville ruled to reverse the Monkey Trial ruling. There was a law in Tennessee at the time that stated only a decision made by the jury could impose a fine greater than fifty dollars upon the defendant. As the change was made on a technicality, the Butler Law had still not been ruled unconstitutional. The Scopes Monkey Trial made way for many more debates across America on the promotion of creation theories being taught in public …show more content…

“Intelligent Design Creationism” was the term used after “creation science” was no longer used. The Intelligent Design Creationism Movement, or the IDC movement, was anti-evolution, which included young earth, old earth, and progressive creationism. However, theistic evolution was not included. The first time the Intelligent Design Creationism movement was put on trial was the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District case in

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