What was the main issue in the Scopes Trial of 1925?

The primary issue in the Scopes Trial of 1925 revolved around the teaching of evolution in public schools. This trial emerged against a backdrop of a growing conflict between traditional religious beliefs and modern scientific theories, particularly the theory of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin.

John T. Scopes, a high school teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, was charged with violating the Butler Act, a state law that prohibited the teaching of human evolution in any state-funded school. The trial became a significant event as it highlighted the cultural clash of the time, with notable figures like Clarence Darrow representing Scopes and William Jennings Bryan opposing him as a defender of creationist views.

The Scopes Trial was not about Prohibition, labor unions, or healthcare issues. Such topics may have been relevant social issues in the early 20th century but did not pertain to the particular legal and educational questions at the center of this landmark case. Ultimately, the trial drew national attention and played a crucial role in the ongoing debate between science and religion in American education and society.