“Inherit the Wind”
Web-quest
Based on the court case The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes,
the play “Inherit the Wind” by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
is the story of this great legal battle of the early 20th century. Known as the Scopes Monkey Trail,
is the story of this great legal battle of the early 20th century.
Known as the Scopes Monkey Trial, “Inherit the Wind”
fictionalizesthe real life case of science teacher John Scopes
who was accused of teaching evolution in a Tennessee high school.
For each section of the web-quest, answer the questions using the websites provided.
Section 1: The Butler Act
Click here to visit this website and answer the following questions:
1. What month and year was the bill signed into law?
2. What did the law make illegal?
3. Who was the governor at the time?
Section 2: Dayton, Tennessee
“Inherit the Wind takes place in Dayton, TN. Click on the website to learn about Dayton in 1925.
1. What are some things you learned about Dayton?
Section 3: Evolution vs. Creation
Often referred to as the “Great Debate,” Evolution vs. Creation is a question of origin. Click on the websites and and answer the following questions:
1. What is the theory of evolution?
2. Who discovered the theory of evolution?
3. What is the theory of creation?
4. Where does the theory of creation come from?
Section 4: The ACLU
Click here to answer the following question:
1. What is the ACLU? What is their goal?
Click here to answer the following question:
2. What was the role of the ACLU in the Scopes Monkey Trial?
Section 5: People involved
For each key figure involved in the trial provide background information and their importance in the Scopes Trial.
1. Who was William Jennings Bryan?
2. Who was Clarence Darrow?
3. Who was John Scopes?