The Butler Act, as it became known, was introduced by John Washington Butler, a farmer and member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Butler was a fan of William Jennings Bryan and shared his concern that science was undermining a belief in traditional religious values. The legislation would be upheld by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1927 and remained law until its repeal in 1967.

House Bill No. 185

Butler

An Act prohibiting the teaching of the Evolution Theory in all the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of Tennessee, which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, and to provide penalties for the violations thereof.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, That it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the Universities, normal and all other public schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the state, to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.

SECTION 2. BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That any teacher found guilty of the violation of this Act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be fined not less than One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars nor more than Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars for each offense.

SECTION 3. BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act take effect from and after its passage the public welfare requiring it. Passed March 13, 1925.

W. F. BARRY

Speaker of the House of Representatives

L. D. HILL

Speaker of the Senate

Approved: AUSTIN PEAY

Governor

March 21st, 1925

Source: “Butler Act,” National Science Education Center, http://ncse.com/files/pub/legal/Scopes/Butler_Act.pdf.