American History Tellers Evolution on Trial | Live and Let Live | 4
Jul 30, 2025
Join Brenda Wineapple, an expert on the Scopes trial and author of 'Keeping the Faith,' as she dives into the pivotal cultural clash of the 1920s. Discover how the trial became a battleground for academic freedom and individual rights, highlighting societal tensions between science and religion. Explore Clarence Darrow's heartfelt defense, the fleeting impact of the trial on its community, and the lasting echoes of this iconic event that continue to shape debates on education and democracy in America.
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Test Cases To Build Civil Liberties
- The ACLU sought "test cases" to challenge anti-evolution laws and publicize its mission.
- These cases aimed to protect academic freedom and advertise the ACLU's existence.
The Roaring Twenties Had Deep Anxieties
- The 1920s mixed cultural vitality with sharp anxieties about immigrants, Bolsheviks, and racial violence.
- Brenda Wineapple says those fears funneled into public conflicts like the Scopes trial.
Roger Baldwin's Pacifist Origins
- Roger Baldwin, a Harvard-educated pacifist, helped form the ACLU from the National Civil Liberties Bureau.
- Brenda Wineapple notes he was arrested for his pacifism and set out to defend First Amendment rights.
