The Scopes Monkey Trial

Oral d’anglais

Trial : procès

Taught : enseigner ; cultiver

Believer : Croyant

Be sentenced : être condamner

Granted : accordée

Only : unique ; single

Ensuite : then ; after ; next

Ridicule : Ridiculous

Autoriser : Authorize ; permit

Scopes Monkey trial (Le procès du singe)

I. First of all the introduction

The scopes Monkey trial is one of most important trial on the twentieth century. The scene takes place at Dayton, Tennessee in the USA from July 10 to 21 1925.

II. Then see the facts.

- John Thomas Scopes was a young teacher in a public school of Dayton.

- He teach to his students the evolutionary theory.

- The Evolutionary theory was developed by Charles Darwin, in England in 1859 in his book “The origin of species.

- But this idea is inconsistent with the literal interpretation of biblical stories that says that man was created by God.

- And the creationism was the only story taught in school in South states like the Tennessee.

- These south states votes a law named “the Butler act” : a low which prohibited another education than that of bible.

III. Next the trial.

A. The opponent.

- The state of Tennessee was represented by a lawyer and former minister William Jennings Bryan.

- A virulent opponent of Evolutionary theory.

- The ACLU (American civil liberties association) is a progresses association which defend John Thomas Scopes.

- It is against the Butler Act.

- Clarence Darrow was his Barrister.

B. The goal of this trial.

- The ACLU it wants that law became unconstitutional.

- They want to go to the Supreme Court to block the Butler act.

- At this time, the entire nation was divided between creationism and Darwinism.

- The ACLU wants to change the public opinion.

IV. The outcome of the trial.

A. The judgment by the Supreme Court.

- John Thomas Scopes was sentenced to pay 100 dollars to the state of Tennessee. But the Supreme Court cancels the penalty because it was the judge who choose the price and not the jury.

B. The consequences of this trial.

- Although the trial was won by the creationism the media victory is generally granted to the Darwinist.

- And the ridiculous penalty

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