Final answer:
Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan argued over the teaching of evolution vs. creationism in the 1925 Scopes Trial, reflecting the societal conflict between modern science and religious fundamentalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1925, Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan represented opposing viewpoints in a significant legal case known as the Scopes Trial or the 'Monkey Trial.' This case became a pivotal moment in the American legal landscape, reflecting the societal clash between modern science and religious fundamentalism.
Bryan, a fundamentalist, prosecuted John T. Scopes for teaching evolution in a public school, which was against Tennessee law. Darrow, an agnostic, defended Scopes, asserting that the trial was a test of intellectual freedom versus state-sponsored religious dogma. With the separation of church and state at stake, the trial illustrated the cultural divide, with rural Americans defending their traditional beliefs against the onslaught of modernism and secularism endorsed by urban populations and liberals.
Despite the guilty verdict for Scopes (later overturned), the trial exposed the challenges of interpreting Biblical scripture and highlighted the increasing tension between science and religion in educational settings. Although a legal victory for Bryan, the trial damaged his stature as his views were subjected to Darrow's scrutiny.