Butler Act (1925)
| Jurisdiction | Tennessee, United States |
|---|---|
| Date passed | March 13, 1925 |
| Subject | Prohibition of teaching human evolution |
| Key Figure | John Washington Butler |
| Repealed | May 17, 1967 |
The Butler Act was a 1925 Tennessee law that prohibited public school teachers from denying the Biblical account of man’s origin. Specifically, it made it unlawful to teach the theory of human evolution as described by Charles Darwin. The law is most famous for serving as the legal basis for the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial.
Origins and Legislative History
The act was introduced by John Washington Butler, a Tennessee state representative and a fundamentalist Christian. Butler believed that the teaching of evolution undermined the religious authority of the Bible and corrupted the morals of the youth. He reportedly stated, "I didn't know anything about evolution... but I’d read in the papers that boys and girls were coming home from school and telling their fathers and mothers that the Bible was all nonsense."
The bill passed the Tennessee House of Representatives by a vote of 71 to 5 and the Senate by 24 to 6. It was signed into law by Governor Austin Peay on March 13, 1925. Despite signing the bill, Peay believed it would likely never be enforced, viewing it largely as a symbolic gesture to satisfy religious constituents.
Text of the Act
The statute was officially recorded as Public Acts of Tennessee for 1925, Chapter 27. The core prohibition read as follows:
"That it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals."
Violation of the act was classified as a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each offense.
The Scopes Trial
Shortly after the law's passage, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sought to challenge its constitutionality. They offered to defend any teacher who would volunteer to be a test case. John T. Scopes, a high school substitute science teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, accepted the challenge.
The resulting trial in July 1925 became a media sensation, pitting two of the era's most prominent figures against each other:
- William Jennings Bryan: A three-time presidential candidate and fundamentalist leader who served as the prosecutor.
- Clarence Darrow: A renowned defense attorney and agnostic who represented Scopes.
Although Scopes was found guilty and fined $100 (a conviction later overturned on a technicality regarding the fine amount), the trial is often seen as a turning point in the American "culture wars." It highlighted the growing rift between modern scientific thought and traditional religious fundamentalism.
Legacy and Repeal
Following the Scopes Trial, several other states—including Mississippi and Arkansas—passed similar anti-evolution laws. The Butler Act remained on the books in Tennessee for over 40 years, though it was rarely enforced.
The legal landscape began to shift in the 1960s. In 1967, Tennessee teacher Gary L. Scott was fired for violating the act, leading to a new legal challenge. Fearing another public spectacle like the Scopes trial, the Tennessee legislature voted to repeal the Butler Act on May 17, 1967.
The broader legal issue was finally settled by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1968 in the case Epperson v. Arkansas. The Court ruled that laws banning the teaching of evolution for religious reasons violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Timeline of Evolution Legislation
- 1925
- Tennessee passes the Butler Act; Scopes Trial takes place.
- 1926
- Mississippi passes a similar anti-evolution statute.
- 1928
- Arkansas voters approve an anti-evolution initiative.
- 1967
- Tennessee repeals the Butler Act.
- 1968
- The Supreme Court strikes down anti-evolution laws in Epperson v. Arkansas.
Generation[edit]
| Provider | gemini |
|---|---|
| Model | gemini-3-flash-preview |
| Generated | 2026-03-20 23:39:30 UTC |
| Seed source | On This Day [03-21] |
| Seed | 1925: The Butler Act prohibits the teaching of human evolution in Tennessee. |