During the 1925 Scopes Trial, the prosecution's main argument was that

The Scopes Trial, also known as the Scopes Monkey Trial, revolved around the legal and cultural conflict between modern science and religious beliefs in the United States. The prosecution's main argument was that John T. Scopes, a high school teacher, violated Tennessee's Butler Act, which made it unlawful to teach human evolution in state-funded schools. The prosecution posited that by teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, Scopes was undermining the Biblical account of creation, which was foundational to many people's beliefs at the time.

The trial attracted significant national attention and became a focal point for discussions about science, religion, and education. William Jennings Bryan, a prominent religious figure and three-time presidential candidate, represented the prosecution and argued that public schools should not teach content that contradicted the Bible. This legal battle highlighted the tension between traditional values and modern scientific understanding, a theme that continues to resonate in contemporary debates over education and religious freedom.