Timeline of Evolution

By matthew_forero

  • Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's death

    He advocated a theory of evolution which stated the idea that traits could be acquired and passed down to offspring.

  • Darwin and the HMS Beagle

    When Darwin's father finally gave him permission to sail on the HMS Beagle, he was employed as the ship's naturalist. He was nearly rejected simply because of the size of his nose.

  • Darwin and the HMS Beagle arrive at the Galapagos Isalands

  • Darwin Receives a Monograph

    Alfred Russel Wallace sends Charles Darwin a message which essentially summarized Darwin's own theories on evolution, inspiring him to publish his works earlier than expected.

  • Charles Darwin Publishes His Book

    Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" was first published. All copies sold out on the very first day.

  • Charles Darwin's book goes into its second edition

    "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" goes into its second edition

  • Debate

    Thomas Henry Huxley and Bishop Samuel Wilberforce of the Church of England engage in their famous debate on Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

  • Ernst Haeckel's Death

    Haeckel was a zoologist whose work on evolution inspired some of the racist theories of the Nazis.

  • Prohibition Against the Teaching of Evolution

    Austin Peay (Tennessee's Governor) signed into law a prohibition against the teaching of evolution in public schools.

  • Scopes Monkey Trial Begins

    John T. Scopes violates the law preventing the teaching of evolution, leading to the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial to begin in Dayton, Tennessee.

  • The encyclical Humani Generis is issued

    Pope Pius XII issued the encyclical Humani Generis, disapproving of ideologies which threatened Roman Catholic faith, but allowed that evolution does not necessarily conflict with Christianity.

  • Epperson v. Arkansas

    The Supreme Court ruled Arkansas' law prohibiting the teaching of evolution unconstitutional, as it was not based off of science but instead a literal reading of the book of Genesis.

  • McClean v. Arkansas

    Arkansas' "balanced treatment" law of equal treatment for creation science with evolution was judged unconstitutional by a federal judge.

  • Edwards v. Aguillard

    The Supreme Court invalidated Louisiana's "Creationism Act" because it violated the Establishment Clause.

  • Webster v. New Lenox

    The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals rule that schools have the right to prohibit teaching creationism because it could constitute religious advocacy.