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During the 1920 s there was much tension between the traditionalists and the modernists. The best example of this conflict was that of the Scopes trial and the changes in the lifestyles and values of the American youth. In both cases the traditionalists and the The first example of the tension between the traditionalists and the modernists was the unfriendly fire from the fundamentalists on the new science and progressive education in the 1920 s. These old time religionists believed that the teaching of Darwinian evolution was destroying faith in God and the Bible. They believed this new teaching was contributing to the moral breakdown of youth in the jazz age.
They tried to create laws to prohibit the teaching of evolution in public schools. Three southern states adopted some of these laws. The three states were in the heart of the Bible Belt South were religion is the strongest, including Tennessee. In 1925, John T. Scopes was indicted for teaching evolution in a Tennessee pubic school. The press came out in full force to cover the Scopes monkey trial.
The famed criminal lawyer Clarence Darrow defended Scopes while William Jennings Bryan, (a fundamentalist) joined the prosecution as an expert on the Bible. Scopes was fond guilty and charged a fine of $ 100. The fundamentalists won a small victory, but soon Christians began combining science with religion and accepting the new discoveries of science. Thus crediting the overall victory The second example of the tension between the traditionalists and the modernists was the changes in lifestyles and values of the youth. Modernists believed that God was a good guy and the universe was a place for fun, while the fundamentalists stuck to old time believes. Flappers and other youth began to wear more revealing outfits and began to cut their hair short and explore in new fields.
Taboos of the past flew out the window, such as monogamy as teenagers explored new sexual frontiers. They danced to jazz music and let themselves go. The modernist were appalled, they began to combat the new dance music, cars, and the devil, by creating wholesome entertainment. They showed religious movies and posted billboards to attract the youth to church. Their effort was not enough, the new crazes of the modernists in the 20 s was to strong for the traditionalists.
The tension between the traditionalists and the modernists was at some times extreme in the 1920 s; the bizarre Scopes trial that was fed upon by the media and the new morals and values of the youthful modernists caused allot of heat. Both sides fought hard for their believes but the modernists were overall triumphant in changing society from the old values and beliefs of the traditionalists. Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on Tension Between The Traditionalists Traditionalists And The Modernists Scopes
