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The Scopes Trial was about teaching the theory of evolution in public schools.
The Scopes trial, formally listed as The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, was a turning point for the teaching of evolution in schools. John Scopes purposefully incriminated himself to force an upturn on the Tennessee's Butler Act, which made it unlawful to teach human evolution in schools funded by the state.
It lasted TWELVE days, from July 10, 1925 to July 21, 1925.
Evolution and Christianity
The Scopes trial did not attract as much public interest as is imagined in retrospect. As the trial took place in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, anyone interested would likely have followed the trial by reading the accounts in the newspapers and from wire services. However, the trial holds the distinction of being the first legal proceeding to be carried on live radio. The Chicago radio station WGN was barely a year old, but arranged for a live broadcast of the trial (including the final day outside the court building). The coverage was coordinated by announcer Quinn Ryan. (see related link)