John T Scopes was a substitute teacher in the state of Tennesse during the 1920's. At this time, the state of Tennesse had a law against teaching students about evolution. Rather, the origin story the state government favored was one based on creationism (idea that God created Earth and all living things).
Scopes blantanly broke this law and was therefor arrested. His trial become famous for pitting religious beliefs versus science in a confrontation that shaped the public schooling system forever.
