The Incorrect Charge of John Scopes Innocence Alexander Hamilton once stated, “No legislative act contrary to the Constitution can be valid.” If an act or law is passed and it is unconstitutional according to the Constitution of the United States, the it is not lawful. Laws like the Butler Act are unconstitutional and should be immediately repealed. The Butler Act reduced the public education in the state of Tennessee by making the teaching of the theory of evolution illegal. In the extremely controversial court case of the Scopes Monkey Trial, the guilty verdict incorrectly prosecuted John Scopes because the Butler Act that was violated was passed for only political gain, it had to real purpose to exist and it was unconstitutional. The
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George Rappleyea who lived in Dayton, Tennessee, saw an opportunity to make the city and himself famous. “George Rappleyea, an engineer at Dayton Coal and Iron Company, and also one of the few evolutionists in Dayton, saw this . . . and recognized the opportunity to make the little town of Dayton famous from the publicity of such a trial” (Ching). George saw for a way to make himself and Dayton famous with the controversial Butler Act that was passed. Rappleyea needed to find someone who would sacrifice themselves for the sake of bringing attention to Dayton, the Butler Act, and Rappleyea himself. “The next step was finding a likely candidate for this test case, someone who would be willing to risk losing his job. John Thomas Scopes, a 24-year-old science teacher at the Dayton High School” (Ching). John Scopes was the perfect person for such a case, and it wouldn’t be hard for him to be found guilty. John Scopes agreed to help Rappleyea since he was a fervent believer in evolution, and the teaching of it. “After agreeing to play the ‘sacrificial role’ and after the ACLU approved the plan, Scopes ‘confessed' to teaching gDarwin’s theory of evolution, contrary to the state law” (Ching). John Scopes saw the value of sacrificing himself as a criminal to bring attention to the Butler Act. The only reason the Scopes Monkey Trial occurred was because the Butler Act which was violated was
George Rappleyea who lived in Dayton, Tennessee, saw an opportunity to make the city and himself famous. “George Rappleyea, an engineer at Dayton Coal and Iron Company, and also one of the few evolutionists in Dayton, saw this . . . and recognized the opportunity to make the little town of Dayton famous from the publicity of such a trial” (Ching). George saw for a way to make himself and Dayton famous with the controversial Butler Act that was passed. Rappleyea needed to find someone who would sacrifice themselves for the sake of bringing attention to Dayton, the Butler Act, and Rappleyea himself. “The next step was finding a likely candidate for this test case, someone who would be willing to risk losing his job. John Thomas Scopes, a 24-year-old science teacher at the Dayton High School” (Ching). John Scopes was the perfect person for such a case, and it wouldn’t be hard for him to be found guilty. John Scopes agreed to help Rappleyea since he was a fervent believer in evolution, and the teaching of it. “After agreeing to play the ‘sacrificial role’ and after the ACLU approved the plan, Scopes ‘confessed' to teaching gDarwin’s theory of evolution, contrary to the state law” (Ching). John Scopes saw the value of sacrificing himself as a criminal to bring attention to the Butler Act. The only reason the Scopes Monkey Trial occurred was because the Butler Act which was violated was