Home > Science Fact Finder > Biology - When Was The Scopes (Monkey) Trial?

Biology - When Was The Scopes (Monkey) Trial?

When was the Scopes (monkey) trial?

John T. Scopes (1900-1970), a high school biology teacher, was put on trial by the State of Tennessee in 1925 for teaching the theory of evolution. By teaching the theory of evolution, Scopes had challenged a law, passed by the Tennessee legislature, that made it unlawful to teach any theory about the origins of humans other than creationism in public schools. The theory of evolution states that humans and other species were produced by gradual changes within preexisting species; creationism is the belief that God created humans and all other creatures. Scopes was convicted and sentenced, but the decision was later reversed. The law against teaching evolution was repealed in 1967.

Presently, pressure brought against school boards by religious groups still affects the teaching of evolution. This is despite recent developments, such as the enhancement of the fossil record, that...

[The entire page is 255 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass