100 años desde el "Juicio del Mono" en Tennessee

Abstract

This year we commemorate the centenary of a key event in the history of the natural sciences and of their acceptance in society. In the state of Tennessee, in the United States of America (USA), the young teacher John Scopes was accused in July 1925 of having taught Darwinism in a public school. This judicial process, popularly known as the “Monkey Trial”, attracted considerable attention: it was the first trial in the USA to be broadcast nationwide on radio. The pro- ceedings lasted eight days, and on the seventh they reached their climax when Clarence Darrow (a defense attorney) cross-examined William Bryan (a prominent politician on the prosecution team), questioning his religious fundamentalist the worldview, which he shook. Numerous films, plays, and songs recall this memorable event. In particular, it was the inspiration for the play "Inherit the Wind", which premiered on Broadway in 1955, was adapted into a movie in 1960, and later for television in 1999. In this academic essay, the “Monkey Trial” is reviewed on the basis of documentary sources and historical orientation, reflecting on its relevance for the teaching of science.