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