Religious fundamentalists
Transcription
Religious fundamentalists
USA 1910–1929: A land of contrast GCSE > History (WJEC) > USA 1910-1929 > The main political and social challenges Religious fundamentalists The Bible belt ran across the southern states of America. The fundamentalist Christians who lived there believed in the literal truth of the Bible, and didn’t agree with the ideas of Charles Darwin being taught in schools. They even had laws passed in six states making it illegal to teach the theory of evolution. John Scopes and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) objected to the laws, and Scopes challenged them by teaching his pupils about Darwin and evolution. The court case that followed received lots of publicity. William Jennings Bryan acted as solicitor for the fundamentalists. John Scopes was found guilty of teaching the theory of evolution to his pupils and was fined $100. But Bryan couldn’t celebrate for long. He died suddenly just a few days after winning the case for the fundamentalists. Things to remember •Religious fundamentalists were mainly from the Bible Belt and the southern states of America. •They rejected the ideas of Charles Darwin and evolution. •They wanted tighter controls over what was taught in schools. •They opposed the teaching of evolution in schools and so supported the Monkey Trial in 1925. •William Jennings Bryan acted as their solicitor in the trial. bbc.co.uk/bitesize