There were many new ideas during the 1920's. Many were progressive, but some only set the country back. One such idea was that evolution should not be taught in public schools. By 1925, Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee had laws preventing the teaching of evolution. Despite support for these laws from Fundamentalists, there were people against these legislations. The American Civil Liberties Union, based in New York, saw these laws as unconstitutional and unjust. Using John Scopes, a teacher, as an example, Butler's Law against the teaching of evolution would be challenged in Tennessee.

John Scopes was a young science teacher and football coach at the high school in Dayton, Tennessee. After the ACLU announced their intentions to challenge the law, Scopes was approached by George W. Rappelyea, and asked if he would go to court under charges of teaching evolution. Rappelyea was looking for a way to draw attention to Dayton while getting rid of Butler's Law. When Scopes agreed, the ACLU was notified and Scopes received Clarence Darrow, one of the nation's best criminal lawyers, as his attorney.

Although Scopes may not have intentionally defied Butler's Law by teaching evolution, he represented the ideas of change in the 1920's. In the '20's, people were ready to assert their rights and defy the law if necessary, as shown during Prohibition. John Scopes shared his views after being ordered to pay a $100 fine. "Your Honor, I feel that I have been convicted of violating an unjust statute. I will continue in the future to oppose this law in any way I can. Any other action would be in violation of my idea of academic freedom."(xroads.virginia.edu) Also, his teachings would become a publicized example of how new ideas were being spread in the nation, even if they were frowned upon.

John Scopes was a tool used to challenge the unjust Butler's Law in Tennessee and bring fame to the little-known Dayton. He was not at school the day he was charged with teaching evolution in class. However, he had probably taught evolution at one point or another and admitted to it. Even though he was used and rarely, if ever, spoke in his trial, allowing it to be a debate between the two lawyers (William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow), he would be referred to in the years to come as an example of rebellious American spirit and one whose presence and ideas heralded change in the early 20th century.