SCOPES TRIAL OPENS IN DAYTON, TN
Dayton, Tennessee (JFK+50) On July 10, 1925, John Thomas Scopes*, a high school teacher in this small town located just north of Chattanooga, went on trial for violating Tennessee's recently enacted anti-evolution law. The Butler Act**, passed by the Tennessee State Legislature in March 1925, made it unlawful to "teach any theory that denies the story of Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible".
Mr. Scopes, in the role of substitute biology teacher at Rhea County High School, admitted to teaching evolution to his class by reading from a chapter of the state Biology textbook. He was charged with violation of the law on May 5, 1925 and indicted on May 25. The Baltimore Sun covered the $500 bail required for Scope's release pending trial.
The trial, conducted by Judge John T. Raulston, took place at the Rhea County Court House from July 10 through July 25, 1925.
*John T. Scopes (1900-1970) was born in Texas and lived in Wisconsin and Illinois. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1924 with a major in law and minor in geology. He became football coach at Rhea County High School where he also was employed as a substitute teacher.
**John W. Bulter (1875-1952) was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives 1923-1927. He also headed the World Christian Fundamentals Association. JWB admitted he knew nothing about evolution but heard that students were coming home from school telling their parents the Bible was nonsense.
Rhea County Court House
Dayton, Tennessee
Photo by Calvin Beale (2006)
