One hundred years ago this July, a small Tennessee courtroom became ground zero for one of America's most consequential cultural battles—and the reverberations of that 1925 showdown continue to shape the fight for the soul of American education today.
In Dayton, Tennessee, high school teacher John Scopes stood trial for violating state law by teaching Darwin's theory of evolution to his students. What unfolded was far more than a simple legal proceeding—it was a clash between traditional American values and the rising tide of secular progressive ideology that sought to reshape the nation's institutions.
A Battle That Defined An Era
The trial pitted William Jennings Bryan, a three-time Democratic presidential candidate and champion of ordinary Americans, against Clarence Darrow, representing the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Bryan understood what many conservatives recognize today: the case was never just about science, but about who gets to control what American children learn.
"The Scopes Trial marked the beginning of the ACLU's century-long campaign to remove traditional values from American public life," noted conservative legal scholars who have studied the case's lasting impact.
While Scopes was ultimately found guilty and fined $100, the mainstream media of the day—led by journalist H.L. Mencken—worked to portray Bryan and the people of Tennessee as backward rubes. It was an early example of the coastal elite's contempt for heartland America.
The Stakes Remain High Today
A century later, the battleground has expanded dramatically. Today's fights over Critical Race Theory, gender ideology in schools, and parental rights are direct descendants of the Scopes trial's central question: Do parents and communities have the right to determine what values are taught to their children?
Under President Trump's leadership, conservatives have renewed their commitment to restoring parental control over education and pushing back against radical curricula. The administration has signaled strong support for school choice and educational freedom.
The Scopes trial reminds us that the fight for America's future has always been waged in its classrooms. One hundred years later, patriots must remain vigilant against those who would use education as a tool for social engineering rather than genuine learning.
The names and issues have changed, but the fundamental battle continues: Will America's children be taught to love and understand their nation, or will activist educators reshape their minds to serve a progressive agenda?