Evolution on Trial | A Clash of Giants | 1

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 9 July 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1925, the famous politician and presidential contender William Jennings Bryan returned to the limelight to lead a new crusade against the teaching of evolution. With Bryan’s support, Tennessee became the first state to ban the teaching of evolution in public schools.

The American Civil Liberties Union resolved to challenge the anti-evolution law in court, and the small town of Dayton, Tennessee volunteered one of their own: a shy 24-year old high school science teacher named John Scopes. What became known as the “Scopes Monkey Trial” would bring together two of America’s most famous orators in a case that would captivate the nation, and pit modern science against religious conviction.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, history buffs, if you can't get enough of the captivating stories we uncover on American
0:04.7	history tellers, you'll love the exclusive experience of Wondry Plus.
0:08.4	Dive even deeper into the past with ad-free episodes, early access to new seasons, and
0:13.0	bonus content that brings history to life like never before.
0:16.2	Join Wondery Plus in the Wondry app or on Apple Podcast and embark on an unparalleled journey through America's most pivotal moments.
0:37.1	Imagine it's May 5, 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee. You're sitting at a small table beside the
0:43.6	soda fountain and Robinson's drugstore. Two friends sit across from you, the school board
0:48.3	president Fred Robinson, who is also the owner of the drugstore and school superintendent Walter
0:53.6	White. The three of you sit in silence,
0:56.3	each watching the drugstore door for the fourth person invited to this meeting.
1:01.1	Scopes, there you are at last. You and your friends exchanged looks of anticipation. As high school
1:06.9	science teacher John Scopes approaches you in tennis whites, his blonde hair and boyish
1:11.7	phase glistening with sweat. I'm glad you could make it. Here, pull up a chair.
1:16.5	Scopes walks towards your table, peering at you warily through horn-rimmed glasses. As he sits down,
1:22.5	Robinson hands him a glass of Coca-Cola. He takes a gulp and wipes the sweat from his brow,
1:28.7	and then eases into his chair with a relaxed confidence. All right, well, what's all this about? I'm in the middle of a match.
1:34.1	The shop boy said he couldn't wait, though. Yes, well, we've been talking. Hand me the textbook,
1:38.5	Fred. Robinson passes you a copy of the high school biology textbook he sells in the store.
1:44.1	You hold it up for
1:44.9	Scopes to see. Now, have you been teaching your children from this book? Scopes lights a cigarette and frowns.
1:51.6	Yes? Then that means you've taught them evolution. Well, sure, I assign them the chapter. You know,
1:57.4	that means you broke the law. What do you mean I broke the law?
	...

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