The significance of the Scopes Trial, officially known as The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, lies in its challenge to the teaching of evolution in public schools. Occurring in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, the trial involved high school teacher John Scopes, who was charged with violating the Butler Act by teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The trial attracted national attention, illustrating the cultural clash between modern science and religious fundamentalism. It featured prominent figures like lawyer Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan, highlighting issues of academic freedom and the separation of church and state. Ultimately, while Scopes was found guilty, the trial sparked ongoing debates about education and belief systems in American society.