The Butler Act was passed by the Tennessee state legislature in March 1925 and made it unlawful for public school teachers to question the biblical account of human origins, specifically banning the teaching of evolution. This move reflected a wave of cultural conservatism that swept through the U.S. in the early 20th century, fueled by religious fundamentalism which opposed the growing influence of modernist thought in both science and literature. In Tennessee, local religious groups, particularly those influenced by evangelical Christianity, promoted the act as a means to protect their values in the face of what they perceived as a threat from Darwinian evolution theory.The act's most notable consequence was the Scopes Trial, which began in July 1925 when high school teacher John T. Scopes was accused of violating the Butler Act by teaching evolution in his classroom. This high-profile legal battle attracted national attention and became a media spectacle, pitting noted lawyer Clarence Darrow against fundamentalist preacher William Jennings Bryan. The trial became a symbolic confrontation, representing the struggle between modern science and traditional beliefs, and raised critical questions about academic freedom, the role of religion in public education, and the implications of government interference in scientific discourse.Although Scopes was convicted and fined, the trial did not result in a lasting victory for either side, setting the stage for ongoing debates about education and religion in America. The Butler Act remained in effect until it was eventually repealed, but it signified a crucial moment in American discourse regarding science education, educational policy, and religious influence in public institutions.