Substitute teaches evolution in Tennessee, a trial is held

Saying that man came from monkeys is a very controversial thing to say. High school teacher, John T. Scopes, has violated the Tennessee's Butler Act. The Act made it illegal to teach evolution in any school.

The trial started with a long prayer. Outside the courthouse a carnival-like atmosphere had the full domain, with barbecues, concession stands and games. The trial took, what seemingly felt, forever.

After the trial, William Jennings Bryan, the opposing prosecutor, used his closing statement as a speech for his rallies.

He never got to use it. He passed away while resting in the night in Dayton that following Sunday.

Scopes was given a job but he ultimately chose to leave the city of Dayton. He studied geology at the University of Chicago.

The impact is very noticeable. Both parties claimed their own crown after the trial, but the Butler Act was kept, and the anti-evolution movement continued to prevail.

Because it was upheld. Mississippi passed a similar law months later, and in 1925 Texas banned the theory of evolution from high school textbooks. Other red states attempted to pass such laws but ultimately failed to do so.