The Scopes Monkey Trial Is the Blockbuster Event of 1925 (feat. Bradley Whitford) - Drunk History

A lawsuit over the right to teach evolution in Tennessee schools pits legal giants Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan against each other.
About Drunk History:
Based on the popular web series, Drunk History is the liquored-up narration of our nation's history. Host Derek Waters, along with an ever-changing cast of actors and comedians, travels across the country to present the rich tales that every city in this land has to offer. Booze helps bring out the truth. It's just that sometimes the truth is a little incoherent.
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[@rookie4789]

Imagine winning an argument so well that you kill the man on the other side.

[@thebeast619]

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words may cause organ failure.

[@annonimooseq1246]

Sounds like a duel

[@TheBlackDemon1996]

Imagine winning an argument by refusing to argue.

[@eddyyaeji6769]

@@thebeast619 lolololol

[@jin_cotl]

This argument cannot continue without my conscious and knowing *consent* I may not let my words be under your wrath of manipulation!

[@Ziaberry]

One of my history professors gave an entire lecture on this case, and to date that was my favorite lecture I've ever attended. Another fun fact: During the trial, the judge was deadass eating a bucket of boiled peanuts.

[@katiebayliss9887]

Ziaberry sounds like something a hick would do, peanuts

[@laurenbastin8849]

*BIBLE BELT INTENSIFIES*

[@SpiceWeazel]

Also, there were people who brought dancing monkeys into town to mock evolution.

[@Pondy33]

I’m first cousins with the judge’s grandkids haha

[@Pondy33]

Maybe it’s great grandkids I can’t remember

[@Quinntus79]

“I have been called on by God to see this case.” Your honor we ask the judge to recuse himself as he just stated why he can’t be impartial in this case.

[@jumpinjehosephat1877]

The judge decides not to recuse himself, according to the power of judges.

[@robertkurschat9808]

It was a slightly different time XD

[@emmakoslosky2431]

The fact that he says William Jennings Bryan's name wrong every. time. Is too funny to mee

[@auxnull]

Williams Jenning Bryans

[@jonlate4581]

It's hilarious because he only misplaces the S. But does it every time.😂😂😂

[@SuperNintendawg]

Agent Kingston

[@Crystallily73]

"I'm gonna destroy you as a witness..." should be a mantra.

[@TheRazz1717]

It's William Jennings not Williams Jenning.

[@uncommon_nettle]

As someone who plays an expert witness in mock trial, it is absolutely already a mantra

[@AJAngelBug]

“No, I think he died of diabetes” “Welp, perfect ending”

[@drottle]

Ya'll forgot to mention that Clarence Darrow was a more devout Christian than William Jennings Bryan, that's how he made him look like fool on the stand. Clarence Darrow is a good example to others; defend the right of knowledge even if it contradicts what you personally believe. (I live about 20 mins from Dayton; Darrow is a little bit of a folk hero to us)

[@brainflash1]

The difference is Clarence Darrow had the balls to admit that the Old Testament was a fairy tale. He didn't need to believe in it to believe in Jesus.

[@censusgary]

William Jennings Bryan’s winter home is just a few miles from my house. I admire Bryan a lot, although he was clearly wrong about evolution, and also about reading the Bible as a literal historical record, which it was never meant to be.

[@michaelcullen5308]

Considering that one of Darrow’s most famous speeches was titled “Why I am an agnostic”, I would take issue with your claim.

[@gypsieladie]

@@brainflash1 This makes no sense. How could he ignore the part of the book that prophesied the coming of Jesus, and gives the laws Jesus himself said he came not to break? Without the Old Testament there is no Messiah. The New Testament is part of the Bible, not the whole thing.

[@Droemar]

@@michaelcullen5308 Ah, the old No True Scotsman argument. Lets you Christians murder other Christians without feeling too bad, eh? I'm not in the least surprised that Bryan got up to defend the Bible without knowing enough about it to defend it. "What do you mean God was prevented from smiting by a foreskin!?"

[@elizabeth6154]

2:30 Can we take a moment to appreciate that one of the scientists is holding an adorable stuffed monkey? 😂

[@shrewdthewise2840]

I know, I really wanted to hear his testimony lol

[@georgemetz7277]

I like the little subtle wave at 2:33.

[@Shadow_Ext]

lol I can't believe i live in the town it happened in

[@emilie7595]

John Mulaney needs to act in one of these

[@blarneystone38]

John Mulaney needs to be the narrator in one of these

[@chrissiek8706]

That would be just memoirs for that tall tired immortal child 😉

[@renee1390]

John Mulaney needs to act, narrate, and slowly take over all the other acting parts until he’s the only one with 0 context or addressing

[@krich451]

I dont think he drinks anymore. Cant really do drunk history when you're not drunk.

[@BobbySacamano]

Did you think of that because right at 0:34 that actor on the left totally looks like him?

[@ChiroTom5]

BJ Porter calling him “Williams Jenning Bryan” the entire time was the best part!

[@Kirsten_is_cursed10]

Are we all just gonna sit here and pretend we don’t know that Jack McBrayer is immortal?

[@tdf_worldkey6666]

Ikr. I've seen him on TV since I was a super small child. Dude is fooling us all

[@carlitagt]

I mean, good guys never really age 😄

[@thnktank1]

He's an angel. Angels are immortal.

[@oct28th1985]

I think they should start each episode by telling us what they're drinking

[@remyjones9146]

Like te cars at the beginning of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

[@bellamaz1972]

DW explained they stopped doing that so it wouldn’t become a competition type thing... presumably also because they don’t want to unintentionally glorify over drinking.

[@whitneyhebert3609]

Some episodes do

[@Dragonwing16]

really? I literally don't care what they're drinking

[@Rougarou99]

They're drinking alcohol.

[@dlxmarks]

Their economy was tanking 4 years before the Great Depression? For once Tennessee was actually ahead of the national curve. Also, the Butler Act remained Tennessee state law until 1967.

[@brainflash1]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we should NEVER have let the south back in the Union.

[@rheajoshi4162]

All the southern states, Tennessee, Georgia, etc. already had failing economies before the Great Depression, because of falling agricultural prices and lesser demand for the goods.

[@dlxmarks]

@@rheajoshi4162 All kidding aside, yes the agricultural economy was in bad shape across the entire US in the 1920's. Farm production had been greatly increased during WWI which lead to peacetime oversupply.

[@Tryo707]

@@brainflash1Well the Union didn't exactly have the space nor the means for the agriculture needed on such a scale. To deny the South would have meant famine and death for untold numbers. They do not appear to have had much of a choice.

[@MalrexMontresor]

@@Tryo707 Actually, not true. While only 40% of Northerners were engaged in agriculture compared to 80% of Southerners, the North had double the average yield per acre and per worker in 1860, mainly due to advances in farming techniques and mechanization necessary to feed a growing urban population. In fact, by 1860, the North produced half the nation's corn, 4/5th of all wheat, and 7/8th of all oats. In contrast, 2/3rds of Southern farmland were dedicated to cash crops like cotton (actually, mostly just cotton), tobacco, and sugarcane. Because of this, the South was actually reliant on Northern exports of corn and wheat both before and after the Civil War (with mass starvation during the war due to a lack of grain). This risky monoculture planting of cotton wouldn't change until the Boll Weevil Infestation of 1915-1922 devastated the South, forcing them to switch to new crops to survive. Note: a mechanical thresher in 1860 could harvest 12 times as much grain per hour as could six men. While a few farmers in the South tried to invest in such devices, slaves were much cheaper, had a lower upkeep, and could work in the rain or mud without breaking down. Also the investment tied up in slavery meant that very few were willing to try.

[@mixedraice]

Bloody hell this is hilarious! The actors are brilliant! It's good to see some of my fav. Hi Bradly! Hi Jack! Oh, and of course all of the Drunk History fam! Thanks for another gem! 😆

[@samvidas9599]

Clarence Darrow: *invites Williams Jennings Bryan to the stand* Williams Jennings Bryan: "I'm going to end this man's whole career" Clarence Darrow: *destroys Williams Jennings Bryan's whole career*

[@MountImprobable]

You get 0 for originality.

[@censusgary]

Since Bryan had only a few days to live at that point, I don’t think his career really suffered much.

[@edwardholmes6038]

Shut up dummy.

[@griffinzink698]

He destroyed his will to live

[@briangarrow448]

Tennessee, fighting against science for nearly 100 years!

[@smurfyday]

It's America, and our Christians.

[@Arthurian_Rabbit]

I kid you not, when I was in high school in east TN back in the early millennium, we had a nativity scene in front of the science section that was comprised of dead cats with sticks up their asses. TN really hasn't changed much I'm afraid. Don't even get me started on the dog and pony show that was our "education". ...I miss all of the nature out there though. Lovely place. Insane people, but...lovely place.

[@Crystallily73]

Jack McBrayer as Clarence Darrow.... Seems about right.

[@brainflash1]

He should be the one playing Mr Rogers instead of Tom Hanks.

[@masungayongiro]

a shame his voice was dubbed over. still funny though

[@lucasbell4831]

@@masungayongiro Yeah, but you can totally still hear him speaking.

[@LaineMann]

I love Jack as much as you do, but his build is wrong and he looks way too young.

[@jessicahubbard4634]

Awesome casting! I love Bradley Whitford

[@tarronkannemeyer7391]

He's the best. I was trying to place his face and finally figured out that he's Commander Lawrence in the Handmaid's Tale.

[@crashburn3292]

I'm pretty sure it's against the law in some states not to love Bradley Whitford.

[@chrisjones6035]

Crazy fact both Scope and Bryan are from the same hometown. Salem Illinois. Bryan delivered the commencement speech at scopes high school graduation.

[@mrsmucha]

Drunk History is so good!

[@shaylalevasseur2852]

KENNETH THE PAGE

[@dougie8747]

Inherit the Wind (1960) is a fantastic film based on this with Spencer Tracy at his best.

[@jossynda]

Dougie I show my students excerpts from this film whenever I teach US History 2.

[@layne721]

I was a little disappointed they didn't mention H.L. Mencken anywhere in the piece - not that he was important to the trial, but he is the man E.K. Hornbeck was based on.

[@zacharysiple629]

It's a great movie but it's not 100% accurate.

[@chrisramsey6725]

@@layne721 He was also one of the wittiest and well- informed journalists and commentators in American history

[@renatacantoregross6283]

Absolutely fantastically fascinating!!!

[@koolk1dde]

I love these

[@forcesightknight]

I love the drunk voice over, lol so funny

[@samanthahyatte04]

I live in dayton and there's a museum under the same courthouse that the trial was in.

[@ivyrose779]

Interesting! I’d love to visit it one day!

[@dontcallmelil8619]

Apple Yay!!

[@mostmelon]

I like these kinds of episodes where the storyteller is just telling the story and the humor comes naturally. He's not forcing in poor jokes that have nothing to do with anything.

[@Starboy-jr1rl]

I love this

[@truthhurts8819]

Love this Series.

[@jones8041]

I've really been enjoying drinking and watching these drunk history lessons. im a little worried that i wont remember half of these... BUT ! i really like these. thanks Com cent!

[@artemusclydefrog9857]

4:32 why do I love this so much???

[@ypn.official]

Why isn't a separate Drunk History channel still not a thing in 2019?? Is it?

[@truthseeker3322]

2:50 😂😂 that face!

[@jonlate4581]

Williams Jenning Bryan kills me every time.😂

[@avikrishna5029]

Mike Pence really out here in 2019 still being a creationist

[@willasproth]

ALEX VAN ZANDT he’s definitely not

[@timewave02012]

Even the Democrats can't run a candidate who doesn't pretend to be religious.

[@whitneysmith9314]

Is that freaking Bradley Whitford???

[@seanalbro3689]

It's also worth noting that William Jennings Bryan had run for president 29 years before this trial, and the majority of the people in that town of Dayton had voted for him

[@alexandertaylor2951]

Great lesson. Hilarious when people spill their drinks

[@censusgary]

Clarence Darrow said, “Scopes is not on trial. Civilization is on trial.” You know, trying to get people in Tennessee, or, for that matter, in America, to side with civilization over ignorance and tribalism is always a long shot.

[@hamnchee]

A courageous thing to post, way to take a stand!

[@catalinacurio]

Challenging this ridiculous law changed history for the better forever, I hope....

[@staciyoung5689]

catalinacurio mmmmm, if only one theory of how earth came to exist is taught in most schools from k-graduate school when there are dozens if not hundreds of theories from thousands of cultures, it seems like didn’t really change anything. It’s still monotheistic, except the universe is the identified higher power instead of Jehovah. No other discipline promotes one school thought on a topic that can’t be proven except this one

[@LARRYIsRealForeverWi]

@@staciyoung5689 awell idk about you but at mexico we are taught all the theories, creasionsm, rvolutionism, natural selection, Catastrophism and Uniformitarianism (and i belive those are all if i remember correctly ) and then we learn why they may be true or not using the scientific method as a guide. The exam is based on you knwing the different theories, why are they theories or just hyphothesis and not laws, and the differences among them.

[@amanrahmani2632]

@@staciyoung5689 if it's disproven we will teach the one with more facts and evidence behind it, on one hand, we have hundreds of years of research fossils, DNA, structural similarities, unused organs like the appendix and way more, on the other hand, you got some book that has more holes then swiss cheese

[@staciyoung5689]

aman rahmani Speaking of holes, every read a history book? Ever remember seeing a brown or black leader in your world history books? If you are in the US, the answer is no. Yet and still we keep teaching it. We overlook holes all the time if it supports our propaganda.

[@amanrahmani2632]

@@staciyoung5689 thats not really the same thing at all first my ap world class the first half of the year we barley even talked about europe and instead focused a lot on africa,china and the precolmbian americas and secondly the truth of the matter is historically brown and black rulers didnt impact the modern world on the same level as say king henry the 8th or king geroge the third

[@efisher92]

“...No. I think he died of diabetes.”

[@JGComments]

Whoever's living room you guys are filming in is DOOOOOPE...

[@Bingobongo12]

In case you guys are wondering, There's a play based off of this trial called "Inherit the Wind." I'm sure some of you read this in high school. It's a very interesting case/story

[@meredithjenkins8727]

I Fucking Love this show! History + Alcohol + Awesome Comedians!!! Genius

[@iagreewithyoubub]

I'm thoroughly enjoying the drunkeness but without the hangover.

[@nathancrossen2224]

Williams Jenning Bryan... Williams Jenning Bryan... It feels like I'm saying it wrong XD

[@alexanderkirkpatrick3270]

Perfect ending

[@dhul-sabhatanalkurdi4010]

i need to see the cast of Its always sunny in philadelphia on one of these

[@sofiah1174]

I swear I learn more from these than 12 years of public school

[@malayacarey69]

I love the scenes when they act awkward coz the narrator is having a laughing fit 😂

[@user-fd9vc3dd1e]

AMAZING PURCHASE and price! Fast delivery! Not cheap made either! Very impressed. I’ll be ordering again!

[@thatokagomoeng7612]

I'm dizzy🤣I feel weird........I'm gonna get Facebook responses for this

[@tarakelly8640]

I remember watching this movie in my theology class and I loved it

[@davidwon7269]

Clarence Darrow ended his whole caree--wait I mean he ended his whole life lol

[@selartosmusic3764]

2:50 outstanding move!

[@ms.rstake_1211]

Here early... Finally! *There is a movie based on this - _Inherit the Wind_ I think 🤔 💨.

[@Kaddywompous]

4:17 I think he poos his pants here.

[@deathwishchrisreilly5194]

4:30 that pretty much sums up the average person's take on the Bible without even trying 😂😂😂😂🔥🔥🔥🔥💪😜

[@NanChirayukool]

Anyone know the actor who plays Clarence Darrow Lawyer? I've seen him several times now and impressed every time with his performance.

[@erinlee5936]

Jack McBrayer is his name.

[@harriken9916]

0:34 " Hey wake up " sound from teanspeak3 :IIIIIII

[@katieelspeth2299]

baller cast, y'all

[@acrophobe]

Gotta love that Williams Jenning Bryan

[@glen1ster]

I'd favor freedom for teaching evolution in public schools and separation of church and state, too, but the truth isn't as one dimensional as often taught. For example, Scope's book, "A Civic Biology: Presented in Problems" (Hunter) taught a junk science rendition of social evolution holding that African- Americans were a lower race and society could be improved by eugenics, preventing intermarriage, etc. Bryant's side was correctly against that stance and Darrow was hypocritical. So choosing the correct side depends on which issues you emphasize.

[@ThatcherChannel]

take a shot every time he says Williams Jenning Bryant

[@autumnwind1216]

What is your name Bryan? Lol

[@foxbutterfly-eden7030]

Williams Jenning Bryan?? Lol

[@alexallen6286]

Fun fact for any who may not know. To this day in Dayton Tennessee, Bryan college is a Christian liberal arts school named after Williams Jenning Bryan. They offered me a partial scholarship to play basketball when I was in high school. During the application, one of the questions was "have you ever (including just one time) used drugs, alcohol, or tobacco?" I selected yes, and they sent a fucking medical sheet that I needed to have a doctor clear before I could attend. Seriously. They're crazy.

[@alexallen6286]

@Starchivore Sam LMAO I actually knew that and I guess because of the comment I replied to used the put the s on the wrong name 😂 But good looking out, stranger. Thanks for correcting my mistake.

[@riparianlife97701]

WILLIAMS JENNINGBRIAN!

[@bluedreamkush2392]

Wow, I learned a lot from Drunk History. Never knew Facebook existed back then.

[@allnamesaretakenful]

Williams Jennings Bryan got wrecked by Evolution in the courtroom, and then Evolution killed him six days later.

[@Zoe-fd8ll]

D a m n

[@Zoe-fd8ll]

Don’t mess with evolution I guess

[@fiandrhi]

"Williams Jenning Bryan"

[@morganj8978]

he said this mans name wrong thee entire time😂😂

[@joshmcreynolds5854]

I actually lived in Dayton for about a year and half and went to the courtroom where they held the trial.

[@annonimooseq1246]

I just reread genesis the other day and it is Wild

[@tiedyedowl8367]

There’s a movie about this (not completely accurate, but REALLY good) called Inherit the Wind.

[@andrewkful]

My brother performed in a school play about this trial. He played Clarence Darrow.

[@22espec]

Yet, almost 100 years later, truth is still denied

[@lindseys228]

1:56 cute dog cameo

[@audieh]

I wrote an essay about this case and called him William Bryan Jennings throughout the entire essay

[@ernestoaranda717]

Were you drunk when you wrote it?

[@audieh]

Ernesto Aranda no, just dumb

[@revmotor]

Kenneth is forever terrifying.

[@shaylalevasseur2852]

AHHHHSKSKSKA

[@mrunalturalkar8405]

Derek looks so cute in the skit. He is baby-faced.

[@studentlogan]

Jennings Bryan was always on the wrong side of every argument in American history.

[@lucasbell4831]

The man was just the physical manifestation of an L. Other people take Ls, but Jennings Bryan just *is* the L.

[@richardarriaga6271]

Actually no. He made the famous "Cross of Gold Speech". He talked about moneyed interests and the plight of the poor farmers at the mercy of creditors.

[@jinwatanabe5817]

Not true. Bryan opposed big business, eugenics, imperialism, the gold standard, and corruption. He fought for the poor and remade the Democratic Party into the party of the people.

[@flyingpig3334]

“no, I think he died of Diabetes”

[@iMOCKusALL]

Hey it's Bradley Whitford!

[@georgemetz7277]

Bradley Whitford is brilliant.

[@colinr4860]

Is that Bill Hader with the pipe?

[@tarekbouabdallah6914]

It's William Jennings Bryan Best story though, thank you!

[@gingerlion8243]

they should do a stoned version of this

[@apolloniaarellano5427]

Hmmmm reminds me of how climate change isn't taught in all schools...

[@jennalyn6704]

Does anyone know what actor is playing William Jennings Bryan?? - thank you 🙏🏽

[@Crystallily73]

Bradley Whitford from The West Wing and Get Out

[@jennalyn6704]

keshia nowden omg I seriously thought it was him but he looked a little different than he normally does these days so I thought I was just wrong. But thank you so much I really appreciate it!!!

[@chironapolonio]

BJ is that exact guy that would just automatically magnetically stick to me at a party and we'd become best buds.

[@maniesh]

He didn't die because of a broken heart, he died because of a broken pancreas

[@Trygon]

Holy shit, Clarence Darrow dunked on a dude so hard he literally died.

[@silverfritzreah5598]

i'm a simple gal, i see Jack, i click.. also, i see drunk history,i click

[@lateesha8174]

Dayton, Tennessee is my hometown.

[@13BlueCrimson]

This kinda reminded me of Ken Ham vs Bill Nye.

[@BlackLasher]

I wish you could get Seth Macfarlane to orate one of these Drunk Histories.

[@ambergerhelper7852]

I would listen to him read the dictionary.

[@BlackLasher]

@@ambergerhelper7852 Him and Benedict Cumberbatch.

[@synchronicitystudios8217]

Williams Jenning Bryan is the mean boyfriend from Adventures in Babysitting

[@davinatest8467]

What a great idea to present drunken history......

[@xMissPegasusx]

Jack mcBrayer

[@finnhobart9100]

Fun fact: William Jennings Bryan was nominated for President by the Democratic Party 3 times. He could have been President. Think about that for a moment. He got really close once as well.

[@finnhobart9100]

@OAT351 I know about that, I was just taking to the topic at hand.