Benchmark+22+sec10group4


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 * Benchmark Name:** The Scopes Trial in 1925

"... that it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, 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 has descended from a lower order of animals." At this time, evolution was a very controversial topic. The American Civil Liberties Union had offered to defend anyone who was accused of teaching the theory of evolution in defiance of the Butler Act. On May 25, 1925, John Scopes, a high school teacher, was arrested for teaching evolution to his students. Scopes never testified since there was never a legal issue as to whether he had taught evolution. After eight days of trial, it took the jury only nine minutes to deliberate. Scopes was found guilty and ordered to pay a $500.00 fine. Scopes' lawyers appealed, challenging the conviction on several grounds.
 * Basic Summary of Benchmark:** On January 28, 1925 the lower house of the Tennessee legislature passed state legislator John Washington Butler's bill; the vote in the Senate on March 13 was 24 to 6 in favor. This proposed law stated:


 * Key Manifestations:** The Scopes Trial only lasted eight days, but is remembered to be a key moment in the science education. John Scopes was found guilty for breaking the law, but it made people realize if this law was right. Eventually the law was demolished as unconstitutional.


 * Key Personnel:** The ACLU had originally intended to oppose the Butler Act on the grounds that it violated the teacher's individual rights, and was therefore unconstitutional. Mainly because of Clarence Darrow, this strategy changed as the trial progressed, and the earliest argument proposed by the defense once the trial had began was that there was actually no conflict between evolution and the creation account in the Bible.


 * Why/How is this a benchmark?** This trial made people think. The Butler Act was repealed and now evolution and all theories are taught in public schools in the United States.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/scopes.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopes_Trial http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/trials1.htm
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