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Today in History: John T. Scopes convicted for teaching evolution

7/21/2025

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Summary

Story summary

On July 21, 1925, John T. Scopes was found guilty in the Scopes trial for violating Tennessee's Butler Act, which prohibited teaching human evolution in public schools. The trial, held in Dayton, Tennessee, aimed to challenge the law's constitutionality and garnered significant national attention, highlighting the conflict between science and religion in education.

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Story summary

On July 21, 1925, John T. Scopes was found guilty in the Scopes trial for violating Tennessee's Butler Act, which prohibited teaching human evolution in public schools. The trial, held in Dayton, Tennessee, aimed to challenge the law's constitutionality and garnered significant national attention, highlighting the conflict between science and religion in education.