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New Evolution Theory
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was born, and Lamark created a theory of evolution which included the idea that traits could be acquired and then passed along to offspring. -
Charles Darwin was born
In 1809 the "Father of Evolution" was born in Shrewsbury, England. -
Graduation
Charles Darwin graduated from Christ's College, Cambridge with a B.A. degree. -
Father Agrees
Charles Darwin's father finally gave permission for him to sail on the Beagle. -
First Interview
Charles Darwin had his first interview with Fitzroy, Captain of the HMS Beagle, in hopes of becoming the ship's naturalist. Fitzroy very nearly rejected Darwin because of the shape of his nose -
Using Zoology for Evolution
Ernst Haeckel was a zoologist whose work on evolution served to inspire some of the racist theories of the Nazis. -
Arrival at the Galapagos
The HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, finally reaches Galapagos Islands. -
Research Published
Charles Darwin receives a monograph and decides to publish his findings earlier than intended. -
Book Published
Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection was first published. -
Famous Debate
Thomas Henry Huxley and Bishop Samuel Wilberforce engaged in their famous debate on Darwin's theory of evolution -
Trial of Evolution
John T. Scopes was born. Scopes became famous in a trial which challenged Tennessee's law against teaching evolution. -
Trial of teaching Evolution
Austin Peay signed a law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public schools. Later that year John Scopes would violate the law, leading to the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial. -
Evolution isn't Involved with Christianity
Pope Pius XII issued the encyclical Humani Generis, containing ideas that threatened the Roman Catholic faith but stated, evolution did not necessarily conflict with Christianity. -
Law Overturned
The Supreme Court found that Arkansas' law prohibiting the teaching of evolution was unconstitutional because the motivation was based on a literal reading of Genesis, not science. -
Government being Indecisive
A federal judge found that Arkansas' "balanced treatment" law mandating equal treatment of creation science with evolution was unconstitutional.