(July 10–21, 1925) Widely publicized trial (called the "Monkey Trial") in Dayton, Tenn.
John T. Scopes (1900–70), a high-school teacher, was charged with teaching evolution , which violated a state law prohibiting the teaching of any doctrine that denied the divine creation of humans. The trial was broadcast live on radio and attracted worldwide interest. The prosecutor was {{link=Bryan, William Jennings">William Jennings Bryan ; the defense attorney was Clarence Darrow . The judge limited arguments to the basic charge to avoid a test of the law's constitutionality and a discussion of Darwin's theory. Scopes was found guilty and fined $100; he was later acquitted on the technicality that he had been fined excessively. The law was repealed in 1967.