Butler Act

Definition

The Butler Act was a Tennessee law passed in 1925 that prohibited the teaching of the theory of evolution in public schools and required the teaching of the biblical account of human creation. This law was a key part of the broader backlash against social and cultural transformations taking place in the United States during the 1920s.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Butler Act was named after its sponsor, Tennessee state representative John Washington Butler.
2. The law was passed in response to growing concerns among conservative Christians about the teaching of evolution, which was seen as undermining traditional biblical teachings.
3. The Scopes 'Monkey' Trial, which pitted high school teacher John Scopes against the state of Tennessee for teaching evolution, was a major event that brought national attention to the Butler Act and the broader cultural conflict it represented.
4. The Butler Act was ultimately ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1968, but it remained in effect in Tennessee until it was repealed in 1967.
5. The Butler Act and the Scopes trial were part of a broader cultural backlash against the social and cultural transformations of the 1920s, including the rise of modernism, secularism, and changing gender and sexual norms.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Butler Act was a response to the social and cultural transformations of the 1920s.
  • The Butler Act was a direct response to the growing influence of modernism and secularism in American society during the 1920s. As scientific theories like evolution began to challenge traditional religious beliefs, conservative Christian groups like fundamentalists pushed back by seeking to ban the teaching of evolution in public schools. The Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution and required the teaching of creationism, was a key part of this broader cultural backlash against the social and cultural transformations taking place in the United States at the time.
• Analyze the significance of the Scopes 'Monkey' Trial in the context of the Butler Act and the cultural conflicts of the 1920s.
  • The Scopes 'Monkey' Trial was a pivotal event that brought national attention to the Butler Act and the cultural conflicts it represented. The trial pitted the state of Tennessee, which was enforcing the Butler Act, against high school teacher John Scopes, who was accused of teaching evolution in violation of the law. The trial became a symbolic battle between the forces of modernism and fundamentalism, with the former represented by Scopes and his supporters, and the latter by the state of Tennessee and the proponents of creationism. The trial ultimately failed to overturn the Butler Act, but it highlighted the deep cultural divides that existed in American society at the time and the ongoing struggle between traditional religious values and the forces of social and cultural change.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Butler Act and the Scopes trial on the relationship between science and religion in the United States.
  • The Butler Act and the Scopes trial had a lasting impact on the relationship between science and religion in the United States. The trial brought national attention to the conflict between evolutionary theory and biblical creationism, and it highlighted the growing divide between modernist, scientific worldviews and traditional religious beliefs. While the Butler Act was ultimately ruled unconstitutional, the cultural tensions it represented continued to shape debates over the teaching of evolution and the role of religion in public life. The trial also contributed to the growing polarization between religious conservatives and secular progressives, a divide that has persisted to the present day. Overall, the Butler Act and the Scopes trial were pivotal events that shaped the ongoing struggle to reconcile scientific and religious perspectives in American society.

Related terms

Scopes 'Monkey' Trial: A famous 1925 trial in which high school teacher John Scopes was accused of violating the Butler Act by teaching evolution in his classroom. The trial pitted proponents of creationism against supporters of evolutionary theory and became a major cultural and legal battle.

Fundamentalism: A conservative Protestant Christian movement that emphasized the literal interpretation of the Bible and opposed modernist interpretations and scientific theories that contradicted biblical teachings, such as the theory of evolution.

Modernism: A broad cultural movement in the early 20th century that embraced scientific and technological progress, as well as more liberal social and cultural values, in contrast to the traditional religious and social norms of the past.