Final answer:
John Scopes, a Tennessee teacher, was tried in 1925 for teaching evolution which violated the Butler Act. the Scopes Monkey Trial highlighted the clash between modernists and traditional Christian fundamentalists over education and values.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1925, Tennessee teacher John Scopes was put on trial for teaching about b) Evolution. The case, known as the Scopes Monkey Trial, was a significant legal battle over the teaching of evolution in public schools. It represented a cultural clash between modern, secular values and traditional Christian views. John Scopes had violated the Butler Act, a Tennessee statute that prohibited the teaching of any theory that contradicted the biblical creation story.
The trial drew national attention with two of the most prominent public figures of the time, William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution and Clarence Darrow for the defense, representing the opposing sides. The case became symbolic of the broader conflict between science and religion, academic freedom, and the role of education in American society.