145k views
5 votes
INTERPRET THE EVIDENCE

1. What does the Butler Act (Document 21.1) reveal about religious objections to
Darwin's theory of evolution? How does it interpret the role of the government
in the educational system?

2. How does Clarence Darrow (Document 21.2) make his case on legal grounds? In
what ways is he defending religious liberty? Why does he think the Butler Act is
dangerous?

3. In what ways is William Jennings Bryan (Document 21.3) making an argument
for states' rights? Why would he make an appeal for the rights of majorities?
How does he try to challenge evolution?

4. How does the Chicago Defender cartoon (Document 21.4) connect the debate over
evolution to southern racial practices? Why does the cartoonist include the U.S.
Capitol in the background?

5. What does Mrs. Blair's poem (Document 21.5) reveal about anti-evolutionists'
view of gender roles in the 1920s? On what grounds, and on whose behalf, does
she defend the Butler Act?

6. Why was the scientific idea of evolution a threat to rural America in the 1920s?

7. In what ways was the Scopes trial a debate about the role of education in American society?

1 Answer

0 votes

Answer:

The Butler Act reveals that there were religious objections to Darwin's theory of evolution, as it prohibited the teaching of evolution in Tennessee's public schools. The act also reveals that the government had a significant role in shaping the educational system, as it had the power to pass laws regulating what could be taught in schools.

Clarence Darrow makes his case on legal grounds by arguing that the Butler Act violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a state religion or promoting religious doctrine. He is defending religious liberty by arguing that the act infringes upon the right of individuals to hold their own beliefs and to have access to a wide range of ideas and perspectives. Darrow also argues that the Butler Act is dangerous because it promotes ignorance and limits critical thinking and intellectual freedom.

William Jennings Bryan is making an argument for states' rights by arguing that Tennessee has the right to determine what can be taught in its public schools and that the federal government should not interfere with the state's educational policies. He appeals to the rights of the majority by suggesting that the majority of Tennessee citizens support the Butler Act and that their views should be respected. Bryan also tries to challenge evolution by presenting arguments and evidence against it and by arguing that it is incompatible with the Bible.

The Chicago Defender cartoon connects the debate over evolution to southern racial practices by depicting the Butler Act as a "Jim Crow" law that is intended to oppress and suppress certain groups of people. The cartoonist includes the US Capitol in the background to suggest that the act is a reflection of the broader national political climate and the influence of certain political groups.

Mrs. Blair's poem reveals that anti-evolutionists viewed traditional gender roles as being under threat from evolutionary theory, which they saw as promoting atheism and immorality. Mrs. Blair defends the Butler Act on the grounds that it promotes Christian values and protects children from harmful ideas. She writes the poem on behalf of parents who are concerned about the moral upbringing of their children.

Evolution was a threat to rural America in the 1920s because it challenged traditional religious beliefs and values, which were particularly influential in rural areas. Some people saw evolution

User Wertzui
by
6.9k points