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Scopes Trial Didn't Quite Happ HISTORY.JULY.06.qxp 6/8/06 2:39 PM Page 24 HISTORY LESSON by Bill Carey, the Tennessee History Guy Scopes Trial didn’t quite happ By Bill Carey, assisted by Tom Davis, director of public information at Bryan College Photographs courtesy of Bryan College Archives ayton is a quiet town. But there was Butler proposed a bill that would make it Done summer when it was everything illegal to teach evolution in the public but quiet. A long time ago, in 1925, Day- schools. Originally the bill died in the ton was the scene of one of the most Senate Judiciary Committee. But it famous trials of all time, usually referred passed at the last minute, under circum- to as the Scopes Trial. Today there is a stances that hint that Gov. Austin Peay small museum there that tells you all may have made a deal to arrange its about what happened. approval. “The governor was really This is what the trial was about: Back opposed to the bill and told me so him- in 1859, English scientist Charles Dar- self, but he simply didn’t have the win came out with the theory of evolu- courage to veto it,” Cecil Sims, a state tion. Among other things, Darwin argued senator in 1925, later said in a speech. By that human beings slowly descended from another species of animals over John Scopes, above center, stands during millions of years. sentencing. He was fined $100. The Rhea County Courthouse, left, as it appeared in In 1925, a Tennessee state represen- 1925,now houses the Scopes Museum in its tative from Macon County named John basement. 24 The Tennessee Magazine HISTORY.JULY.06.qxp 6/8/06 2:39 PM Page 25 HISTORY LESSON by Bill Carey, the Tennessee History Guy pen the way people remember the way, Sims had only three years earlier co-founded the Nashville law firm Bass Berry & Sims. A few weeks later, the American Civil Liberties Union let it be known that it would pay the legal expenses of anyone willing to challenge the new law. Some of the folks in Dayton saw this ad, and they got to think- ing: If there is going to be a trial challenging this law, and it’s going to be big news, then why not have it here? After all, it would be good publicity for the town, and it would help the hotels and restaurants. So these folks convinced John Scopes, a teacher at the local high school, to agree to challenge it. Scopes signed on as the plaintiff, even though he may never have taught the first lesson about evolution. Before long, the trial of State of Tennessee vs. Scopes was on, and the whole nation was following it. Scopes’ lead attorney was Clarence Darrow of Chicago; the best-known attorney represent- ing the state was William Jennings Bryan (who had been the Democratic nominee for president three times). National news- papers and radio stations descended on the small town. Dayton’s downtown took on a carni- val-like atmosphere, with people selling souvenirs and Clarence Darrow, left, represented Scopes, while William Jennings even carrying monkeys with Bryan, right, argued for the state of Tennessee.The trial’s focus turned to evolution versus creationism, not Scopes’ actions. them. The trial took place in McConnico, one of the founders of the Nashville law firm now July 1925. It was hot and known as Waller Lansden Dortch and Davis. crowded in the courtroom. Then, several While a national radio audi- decades later, some- Tennessee History for Kids ence listened in, attorneys one wrote a play Bill Carey is a Nashville author and called “Inherit the Darrow and Bryan focused executive director of Tennessee His- the trial not on Scopes’ Wind” that was loose- tory for Kids, an online Tennessee actions but on evolution ly based on the events itself. It was almost as if of that summer. It history textbook. For more great sto- Darwin was on trial. At one later became a great ries of Tennessee history, go to point, Darrow put Bryan on movie, which you can www.tnhistoryforkids.org. the stand, asking him ques- rent at most video tions about the validity of stores. One warning about “Inherit the Wind,” however: The the Bible. movie does not accurately depict what occurred that summer. A chimpanzee named Joe Mendi Scopes lost the case and All of these events are explained at the Scopes Museum, was one of the biggest hits when was fined $100. His attorney located in the basement of the old Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton took on a carnival-like later appealed to the Ten- Dayton. And, by the way, the Scopes Trial is re-enacted at the atmosphere for the Scopes Trial. nessee Supreme Court, courthouse every summer by Rhea County residents, including which threw out his conviction on a technicality. some of the staff and students at Bryan College. This year the William Jennings Bryan died only a few days after the event will take place July 14-16. Scopes Trial. When the case was appealed to the state supreme If you come, leave your monkey at home. But bring a fan. As court, his place as lead attorney was taken by Kinnard T. everyone found out in 1925, it gets hot in Dayton in July. July 2006 25.
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