Scopes Monkey Trial
 |
| Clarence Darrow |
Scientific methods played a great role in the industry and innovations of the time period. The role that religion played in human affairs was challenged as scholars began to analyze biblical meaning. The ideology of Fundamentalism grew during the 1920s. Fundamentalists were Christian Traditionalists and took the Bible’s teachings as truths. Many people began to accept the theory of evolution and believed that more advanced species evolved from simpler life forms as opposed to the creationist theory taught through the teachings of the Bible.
Tennessee passed a ban on teaching the theory of evolution. When science teacher John Scopes challenged the ban and taught the theory, suit was filed against him. William Jennings Bryan, former Populist presidential candidate, prosecuted Scopes while lawyer Clarence Darrow defended him. The trial was broadcast over America’s radios and pitted science and reason against the Bible. Though Scopes admitted guilt, Darrow weakened Fundamentalist views by having Bryan admit that he did not interpret the Bible literally during the trial.