1. Main Question: Why Was This Trial Historically Important?

Documentary questions: 1. Main Question: Why was this trial historically important? 2. What was happening to social patterns in the USA? 3. Who led the movement to keep schools from teaching evolution? Why? 4. Which state enacted a bill, an Act, that forbade the teaching of evolution? When? 5. What was the ACLU’s reaction? 6. Where and when did the trial take place? 7. Who had the original idea to have a trial in Dayton? 8. Who was accused of teaching evolution? Was he guilty? 9. Describe William Jennings Bryan, the famous person who joined the prosecution. 10. Describe Clarence Darrow, the famous person who argued for the defense. For what was he famous? Why was the ACLU unsure about his help? 11. Were people interested as the trial started? (This covers several minutes of material.) 12. Explain the “carnival” and “Monkeyville.” 13. Explain the jury selection. 14. Was Judge John T. Raulston biased? 15. What was the defense’s first strategy? How did that go? 16.Describe the opening statements of the trial. 17. What was the defense’s next angle? 18.The prosecution always presents its case first, giving evidence and interviewing witnesses. Sum up the prosecution’s argument. 19.The defense follows. Tell about the first defense witness, Dr. Maynard Metcalf. 20. Explain what happened when Darrow lost his temper. 21. What happened outside? 22. Sum up what happened when Bryan took the stand for two hours. What was Darrow trying to do? Where did Bryan go wrong? Note: this question covers a lot of material. Be sure to “sum up;” you don’t need to record every detail. 23. How was the confrontation reported in the press? 24. How did the trial end? 25. Explain Bryan’s death and Darrow’s reaction. (When you have read the play, compare and contrast this with the version in Inherit the Wind.) 26. Darrow planned to appeal, to take the case to the Supreme Court. Explain how that turned out. 27. How did the Scopes trial affect things?

Bonus: What famous reporter covered the story? For what paper?