Rural and Urban Americans had very different opinions on the way students should be taught. In Rural America, communities thought that kids should be taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. Also, They were trained in muscle, endurance, and crops for animals. ( Lapsansky-Werner, Emma J. United States History.) The people seemed to think these skills were much more important than the “ book learning” which was done in Urban areas. Urban society had a very different learning strategy. They did not teach fitness, but they taught everything you should know to be successful. For example, teachers taught mathematics and language thinking it was the key to being successful, and would get the students a high paying job. In the 1920’s Americans all over the country thought there was not enough Christianity. Everyone was upset and approached this problem with fundamentalism, which is Protestant teachings that every word in the bible is the 100% truth. These ideas spread all over the country, but mostly in rural America. Charles Darwin’s theory was the complete opposite. He believed that human beings developed from simpler forms of life. This theory was based off science and not religious belief. “ In January 1925 the Tennessee General Assembly enacted a law that forbade the teaching of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to public-school students in that state” ( The Scopes 'Monkey' Trial and the Separation of Church and State.) A high school biology teacher, John Scopes taught evolution in his class and wanted to challenge the law proving that Darwin's theory is correct. He got thrown in jail and then the Scopes Trial began. This trial drew nationwide attention. Scopes was found guilty of breaking the law and fined $100. “most Christians had continued to push religious exercises, such as devotional Bible reading and organized prayers in public schools, but they became less popular and important because the people focused more on eliminating the government's power to restrict individual religious expression than on promoting a state power to promote religion.” ( WEST, JOHN G., Jr. "Religious Fundamentalism." ) This case showed a major religious division, and both sides still today believe different theories.
Caption:
This was the headline on newspapers, the people
were very shocked and appalled that Darwin's
theory was saying that humans came descended
from monkeys.
This was the headline on newspapers, the people
were very shocked and appalled that Darwin's
theory was saying that humans came descended
from monkeys.
Caption:
This is Darwin's theory, this was
the complete opposite of fundamentalism. Darwin's
theory is basically saying that human
life descended from monkey type animals.
This theory was based off science
This is Darwin's theory, this was
the complete opposite of fundamentalism. Darwin's
theory is basically saying that human
life descended from monkey type animals.
This theory was based off science
Pictures:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/leonandloisphotos/8517703514/
https://sites.google.com/site/theeducationalforumofjoshua/charles-darwin-s-theory-of-evolution
https://www.flickr.com/photos/leonandloisphotos/8517703514/
https://sites.google.com/site/theeducationalforumofjoshua/charles-darwin-s-theory-of-evolution