The twentieth century in the United States was a time of much change and controversy. Between the 1920s and 1980s, the United States struggled between new and changing attitudes on the one hand, a return to traditional values ​​and nostalgia. Many events have occurred that have brought about change that has been and will remain so in the United States. However, many traditional values ​​are still present and survive in a changed United States. Many times, if a change failed or was not approved by society, people would revert to the tried and true traditional values. Areas that were controversial or where values ​​were being tested included public schools, government, civil rights, and women's rights. In particular, one of the wars waged between changing attitudes and traditional values ​​occurred in the 1920s in the public school system. The Scopes trial was brought to court when a Tennessee teacher began teaching evolution. It was against Tennessee law to teach evolution in a publicly funded school. HL Mencken wrote about the Scopes trial in the Baltimore Evening Sun. Mencken wrote about the defense attorney, Clarence Darrow, and the prosecution led by William Jennings Bryan (70). Mencken described Bryan as a controller and the people of Tennessee as sheep or ignorant people who would believe anything. Mencken was on Scopes's side while disagreeing with the fundamentalists (70). Scopes was found guilty and it was an early victory for traditional values ​​(Davidson 505). Today, many states allow the teaching of all theories as long as they have the same instructional time, but evolution and creationism in the classroom is still a controversial topic. During the Great Depression, one of the major changes occurred in the United States: go... ...middle of paper...1980s, but some were challenged and overcome by new ideas. Many topics in society: public school, government, civil rights, and women's rights were debated to determine whether they should remain traditional or change. Often, changes in some matters that did not occur were reverted to the traditional way. Many of these changes affect the United States today. Works Cited Davidson, James West, et al. HIST 202 US: A Narrative History Volume 2: Since 1865 with additional materials for McNeese State University. Boston: McGraw Hill Learning Solutions, 2012. Print.Blackmun, Justice. “Roe v. Wade.” Davidson 132-133.Mencken, H.L. "The Scopes Trial." Davidson 70.Kennedy, John F. “John F. Kennedy's Radio and Television Report to the American People on Civil Rights.” Davidson 116-118.Roosevelt, Franklin D. “First Inaugural Address.” Davidson 74-75.