The central issue during the Scopes Trial in 1925 was the teaching of evolution in public schools. The trial pitted modernist views, which embraced scientific explanations of the origin of human beings, against traditionalist beliefs, particularly the literal interpretation of the Bible. John T. Scopes, a high school teacher in Tennessee, was tried for violating the Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution. The trial garnered national attention and became a significant cultural clash between science and religion, reflecting broader societal tensions in America. Ultimately, it showcased the conflict between progressive and conservative values during that era.