The Scopes "Monkey Trial"

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.










Provides new perspectives and new information about the Scopes Trial, a landmark in American history




Unearths the often-overlooked story of John Scopes and his life before, during, and after his trial




Includes never-before-published perspectives from his children, descendants, and friends




Provides context for today's ongoing controversies about who controls the curricula of public schools
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