LibGuides: Inherit the Wind Moot Court: Inherit the Wind

First Amendment

The First Amendment Center -This portion of the First Amendment blog (not a website) specifically addresses evolution

The First Amendment Center - This portion of the blog specifically addresses Intelligent Design

Selected Resource List

Click on the graphic to access the list of suggested books.

You can also access the list from Destiny. Look for Resource Lists on the left menu. Select Public Lists tab and look for Inherit list.

Historical Fiction

Ringside 1925 by Jen Bryant
Call Number: FIC BRY
ISBN: 9780440421894
A novel in free verse poems, in which visitors, spectators, and residents of Dayton, Tennessee, in 1925 describe the Scopes "monkey trial" and its effects on that small town and its citizens.
Monkey Town by Ronald Kidd
Call Number: FIC KID
ISBN: 9781442442115
When her father hatches a plan to bring publicity to their small Tennessee town by arresting a local high school teacher for teaching about evolution, the resulting 1925 Scopes trial prompts fifteen-year-old Frances to rethink many of her beliefs about religion and truth, as well as her relationship with her father. Note: The cover shown here is different than the cover shown in our collection.

Objective

Many of the same issues that were a source of conflict in the Scopes Trial are still under debate today in 2013. Your research will need to focus on the current status of the teaching of evolution and the belief in Creationism, or Intelligent Design. Information is also provided on the First Amenment (censorship). You need to consider the concept of Academic Freedom (for education) and the tension that exists between some religious beliefs and scientific fact.

Key words to begin with are "creationism" or "intelligent design". You should know a little bit about Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution (but not the current theory of Social Darwinism) and Fundamentalist religion. Add to the keywords as you develop your research.

Essential Questions

Begin your research with one or two essential questions. For example: Why was Darwin's theory so revolutionary? Why did he wait so long before publishing it? How did his theory affect education? science? religion?

Topics

The Scopes Monkey Trial
Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution
Creationism and Intelligent Design
Censorhip: Who determines what is taught in the classroom?
The controvery of teaching evolution in the schools today.
What current events were happening in the United States during the mid-1920's?
Describe the criminal justice system.
Careers in the following: criminal justice / journalism / education

Scopes Trial

A Monkey on Tennessee's Back

Famous Trials in American History

Scopes Monkey Trial

The Scopes Trial - This Digital History website offers an overview of the trial and the events leading up to it.

Court Cases

There have been many court cases challenging the teaching of evolution in public schools. See the print reference titles. One recent case in particular occurred in 2005 outside Harrisburg, Pa, in the Dover Area School District. Use the links below to search for more information.

Kitzmiller v. Dover - This webpage from the National Center for Science Education provides a synopsis of the case and the ruling, as well as additional links on the testimony and similar cases. A Google search using the court case as a search term will turn up more information.

Intelligent Design on Trial - PBS Nova site that focused on the Kitzmiller case and follow up links