EPPERSON v. ARKANSAS
 393 U.S. 97 (1968)
by
Corey Lear

Susan Epperson, Appellant, was a new teacher in a high school in Arkansas. The school gave her a book that had the Darwinian Theory in it. In the State of Arkansas it was illegal to teach or use a book on the topic of evolution from a lower order of animal. Since this book was forced on Susan, she challenged the constitutionality of the Arkansas “Anti-evolution” Statute at the Chancery Court of the state. The Chancery Court found in favor of Epperson by saying the statute violated the free exercise clause of the First Amendment and the Fourteenth  Amendment which applied the First Amendment. The Supreme Court of Arkansas revered the decision, when appealed, and said it was an exercise of the state power to specify the curriculum.

The Supreme Court of the United States found the statute was unconstitutional because it was an unconstitutional establishment of religion of state in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.