The Scopes Trial, also known as the State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, challenged the scientific theory of evolution, particularly Charles Darwin's ideas regarding natural selection. The trial took place in 1925 when a school teacher, John Scopes, was prosecuted for violating the Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in Tennessee public schools. The trial became a significant legal and cultural battleground, pitting modernist views of science against traditional religious beliefs. It brought national attention to the debate over science and education, marking a pivotal moment in the discussion of educational curricula in the United States.