Butler Act
United States law
Quick Summary
The Butler Act was a Tennessee law enacted on March 21, 1925. It prohibited public school teachers from teaching the scientific theory of evolution, stating it was unlawful to deny the biblical account of divine creation and teach that humans descended from lower animals.12
The law was famously challenged in the Scopes Trial, also known as the "Monkey Trial." Despite John Scopes being found guilty, his conviction was later overturned on a technicality. However, the Butler Act itself remained in effect.1
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