The Scopes "Monkey Trial": America's Most Famous Trial and Its Ongoing Legacy

by Randy Moore

Overview

This book introduces readers to the "Trial of the Century," revealing how the trial originated, what caused and happened during and after the trial, what happened to the trial's participants, and why the trial still matters nearly 100 years later.

Ongoing controversies about school curricula, such as the teaching of Critical Race Theory and the role of parents in public education, can all be traced to the Scopes Trial. Today, the question remains: who controls the school curriculum? This was a foundational issue in the Scopes Trial, and we have been debating this question ever since. This book will help readers understand where these controversies originated and how courts, politicians, and the public handled these issues nearly a century ago.

Featuring new information from previously untapped sources and providing an in-depth study of John Scopes himself, this book interrogates the facts, fictions, and legend of the Scopes Trial, which historians rank as one of the defining events of the 20th century. It is an ideal resource for anyone interested in the ongoing controversy about evolution, science, and religion in education and American life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440878091
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/07/2022
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.55(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Randy Moore, PhD, is professor of biology and H.T. Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xv

Introducing "The Trial of the Century" xvii

Abbreviations xxxi

Chapter 1 Origins of the Fundamentalists' Crusade against Evolution 1

Chapter 2 Making It a Crime to Teach Evolution 21

Chapter 3 Pretrial Skirmishes 47

Chapter 4 The Duel Begins 69

Chapter 5 Convicting Scopes 99

Chapter 6 The Aftermath of the Scopes Trial 119

Chapter 7 Inherit the Wind 149

Chapter 8 Back to Court 167

Chapter 9 Whatever Happened To … 185

Chapter 10 Epilogue 201

Appendices

Appendix 1 Chronology of the Scopes Trial and Related Events 205

Appendix 2 The Passage and Repeal of the Butler Act in Tennessee 211

Appendix 3 Film Adaptations of Inherit the Wind 213

Appendix 4 Major Post-Scopes Legal Challenges Involving the Teaching of Evolution and Creationism 215

Notes 225

Bibliography 269

Index 271

What People are Saying About This

Lisa Metzger Rennegarbe

"Well done, Randy Moore! Thank you for your exhaustive research, historical detail, and gifted storytelling of my family's history."

James Presley

"Professor Randy Moore's monumental labors on this well-trodden path of history have produced a masterpiece of scholarship. Often venturing where no historian has gone before, his indefatigable gathering of facts gleaned from every possible source presents a story that enlightens, intrigues, and entertains. Result: A good read and reliable encyclopedic reference for anyone seeking any recondite aspect of the Scopes Trial."

Pat Guffey

"The Scopes 'Monkey Trial' gives an excellent description of the trial and its components. This book shows that this event is relevant even today, giving the reader a better understanding of the trial and those associated with it."

Editorial Reviews

Recommended. Undergraduates through faculty; professionals; general readers.” —Choice

“Professor Randy Moore's monumental labors on this well-trodden path of history have produced a masterpiece of scholarship. Often venturing where no historian has gone before, his indefatigable gathering of facts gleaned from every possible source presents a story that enlightens, intrigues, and entertains. Result: A good read and reliable encyclopedic reference for anyone seeking any recondite aspect of the Scopes Trial.” —James Presley, PhD, Co-Author of Center of the Storm: Memoirs of John T. Scopes

“Well done, Randy Moore! Thank you for your exhaustive research, historical detail, and gifted storytelling of my family's history.” —Lisa Metzger Rennegarbe, Grandniece of John T. Scopes

“The Scopes 'Monkey Trial gives an excellent description of the trial and its components. This book shows that this event is relevant even today, giving the reader a better understanding of the trial and those associated with it.” —Pat Guffey, Rhea County, Tennessee, Historian

From the Publisher