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William Jennings Bryan, three-time presidential candidate and former secretary of state, argued for the prosecution, while Clarence Darrow served as the defense attorney for Scopes.
Dec 15, 2009 · The jury predictably found Scopes guilty, but Bryan’s performance in the trial, and his thrashing in the national press, marked a less than stellar end to his long career as a public figure.
Jun 12, 2015 · Learn how the famous trial between evolution and creationism in 1925 involved the Presbyterian leader and politician William Jennings Bryan. Explore the historical context, the legal outcome, and the legacy of the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy.
Nov 17, 2017 · Learn about the 1925 trial that pitted anti-evolutionist William Jennings Bryan against evolutionist Clarence Darrow, and how it challenged the constitutionality of the Butler Act. Find out how the trial became a media spectacle, a test of civil liberties and a clash of religious views.
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May 21, 2024 · William Jennings Bryan, Populist leader and orator who ran unsuccessfully three times for U.S. president (1896, 1900, and 1908). Some saw him as an ambitious demagogue, others as a champion of liberal causes. Learn about his policies, ‘Cross of Gold’ speech, and role in the Scopes monkey trial.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn about the life and legacy of the progressive politician and evangelical leader who opposed evolution in the Scopes trial. Find out how he mixed religion and politics, why he defended the Bible and how he died after the trial.
William Jennings Bryan (seated at left) was questioned by Clarence Seward Darrow during the trial of State of Tennessee vs. John Thomas Scopes on July 20, 1925. The trial had been moved outside by the judge who claimed the crowd was too large and feared the floor might collapse.
