Epperson v. Arkansas
Epperson v. Arkansas was a landmark Supreme Court case that addressed the legality of state laws prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public schools. The case arose from Arkansas's "Monkey Law," which aimed to prevent the instruction of evolutionary theory in educational institutions. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that this law violated the First Amendment's freedom of religion clause, as it was found to promote a specific religious viewpoint. The decision emphasized the principle of separation of church and state, reinforcing that public education should not endorse or inhibit religious beliefs. Following the ruling, Arkansas attempted to implement a new law requiring the teaching of creationism alongside evolution, which was later deemed unconstitutional in another case. Epperson v. Arkansas set a significant precedent in the ongoing debate over science and religion in education, contributing to the broader discourse regarding academic freedom and constitutional rights in the United States. This case highlights the complexities surrounding educational policy, religious expression, and legal interpretations of the First Amendment.
Epperson v. Arkansas
Date: November 12, 1968
Citation: 393 U.S. 97
Issue: Establishment of religion
Significance: The Supreme Court found laws banning the teaching of evolution to be an unconstitutional establishment of religion.
The Supreme Court unanimously overturned an Arkansas supreme court ruling that upheld Arkansas “Monkey Law” statutes banning the teaching of evolution in public elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities. The Court held that Arkansas violated the freedom of religion mandate of the First Amendment as applied to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment under the incorporation doctrine. Justice Abe Fortas wrote the majority opinion, with Justices John M. Harlan II and Hugo L. Black concurring. In 1982 Arkansas responded by passing a new law that required all public schools to “balance” any teaching of evolution with the teaching of creation by a “supreme power.” This was declared unconstitutional in a federal district court in McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education (1982). This case was very similar to one covering a Louisiana policy later declared unconstitutional by the Court in a 7-2 decision in Edwards v. Aguillard (1987).
