JOHN THOMAS SCOPES

EARLY LIFE

• Youngest of 6
• Graduated high school in 1919 in IL
• Attended university of Chicago and later on transferred to Kentucky
• Had to drop out for medical reason but later on earned a degree in law
• Came to Dayton, Tennessee right after college to teach at Rhea County a central High school

CONVICTED

• Playing tennis, group of business men came up to him and offered if he could teach evolution
• The butler act - prohibits teaching of evolution in public schools
• Charged May 5th 1925 for violating butler act
• Trial began July 10th 1925

TRIAL

• Defended by celebrity lawyer Clarence Darrow and prosecutor was William Jennings Bryan
• Named "monkey trials" because taught with a monkey, did that because of Darwinism
• Trials was a spotlight for the lawyers
• "Scopes was being used. Completely willing to be used. But essentially the case had been taken over" by big names
• Trial ended in conviction verdict was over turned by technicality

RHEA COUNTY COURTHOUSE