Final answer:
The Scopes trial became a public spectacle due to the clash between evolution and the belief in a literal interpretation of the Bible. The decision to call the prosecutor as a witness and the extensive media coverage added to its spectacle status.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Scopes trial, also known as the Scopes Monkey Trial, became a public spectacle due to the clash between the teaching of evolution and the belief in a literal interpretation of the Bible. The trial gained widespread attention and media coverage because of the controversial nature of the topic and the high-profile figures involved.
One factor that made the trial a public spectacle was the decision of the defense attorney, Clarence Darrow, to call the prosecutor, William Jennings Bryan, as an expert witness on the Bible. Darrow's cross-examination of Bryan, which aimed to ridicule the literal interpretation of the Bible, generated intense interest and controversy.
The media coverage of the trial further contributed to its public spectacle status. The trial was extensively covered by newspapers and radio, making it accessible to a wide audience and fueling public interest in the case.