Scopes Monkey Trial - 100 Year Anniversay

13 snips

Jul 18, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Edward Larson, a Pepperdine professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'Summer for the Gods', unpacks the complexities of the Scopes Monkey Trial. He explores how a small Tennessee town orchestrated the trial as a publicity stunt, attracting national attention and pitting science against biblical teachings. Larson reveals the true motivations of key players like Scopes, Bryan, and Darrow while examining the trial's long-lasting impacts on American culture and fundamentalism. This conversation sheds light on the evolving relationship between faith and science.

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ANECDOTE

Dayton's Publicity Stunt

The town of Dayton orchestrated the Scopes trial as a publicity stunt to revitalize its economy.
They convinced teacher John Scopes to deliberately break the law to attract national attention and visitors.

INSIGHT

Majoritarianism vs Minority Rights

William Jennings Bryan believed in majoritarian democracy, trusting the majority to shape society's rules.
This belief conflicted with the ACLU's goal to protect minorities from government overreach.

INSIGHT

Myth vs Reality of Dayton

The popular narrative of the Scopes trial as a rural fundamentalist victory is largely inaccurate.
In reality, Dayton was a liberal, Republican town where the trial was engineered by liberals to challenge the law.

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I made these episodes a few years ago, but since it is the 100th anniversary of the Scopes "Monkey" trial, I thought we should revisit them!

Tennessee was the first state in the United States to crack down hard on the teaching of evolution in public schools. Others had dabbled, but Tennessee went all the way. The ACLU wanted to challenge the validity of the case in the courts. In order to do that they needed an educator to teach it, get busted, and be brought to trial.

At the same time, the town of Dayton, TN, needed a boost. After the biggest employer closed down, it faced serious economic trouble. What if the men of Dayon could manufacture a court case to draw the attention of the nation? They found a young teacher named John Scopes and convinced him to participate in their scheme. They booked Scopes, even though he probably never taught evolution. The ACLU had its case.

Soon, William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow hopped on board, and it went from a publicity stunt to something for the history books. This is the event that some historians (wrongly) point to as the death of Christian fundamentalism in the United States until it was revived by the Moral Majority. One man fighting for the biblical idea of creation and another for godless atheism. But the real history is far more complex.

Edward Larson, professor at Pepperdine University, joins us to discuss the trial and his Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Summer for the Gods”.

Helpful Sources:

“Summer for the Gods” by Edward Larson
Rhea County Heritage and Scopes Trial Museum Worth a visit!
Court Transcript of the Scopes Trial (easy to find online)
“A Godly Hero” by Michael Kazin

Discussion Questions:

What events led to the Scopes trial?
Why did the ACLU feel they had to try the Tennessee Law?
Who should decide what is taught in schools? Teachers? Parents? Lawmakers? Or some combination?
What were William Jennings Bryan’s motives for joining the prosecution?
What were Clarence Darrow’s motives for joining the defense?
Should prayer be allowed before a trial about religion?
Should Christians get involved in what is taught in schools? To what degree?

Dayton, Tennessee’s plan to boost tourism William Jennings Bryan’s crusade against Darwin

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