Why did the ACLU and Clarence Darrow come to the aid of John T. Scopes? What was the outcome?
1 Answer
Why did John Scopes come to the aid of the ACLU?
Explanation:
The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) advertised in the newspaper saying they would pay for the the defense against the Butler Act that forbade the teaching of Evolution in Tennessee schools. Local businessmen in Dayton, Tennessee thought if they could get the trial to happen there then the town would get some publicity. They persuaded Scopes to stand trial.
Scopes was a substitute teacher and assumed that he had taught the relevant material. He never took the the stand for fear that he might state this uncertainty.
The whole process was self serving grandstanding by many people involved. The Butler Act was certainly reactionary nonsense. Scopes was found guilty but the trial was voided on appeal. The ACLU was unable to find anyone to stand trial again.
The Butler Act was created so that children could not argue with their Christian parents that the Bible was wrong.
