The Crucible Arthor Miller

1. The CrucibleArthor Miller Introduction

2. Objectives • Understand the cultural dynamics that caused the McCarthy trials. • Understand the cultural dynamics that caused the Salem Witch Trials. • Compare and contrast the causes of the two trials.

3. Imagine • Imagine that on last night’s State of the Union, the President stated that the government had suspicions that there were Russian spies infiltrating Middle Tennessee and that he has implemented a plan to find and prosecute all suspected spies. The next morning, you and your family were awoken by FBI agents forcefully entering your home and arresting all of you. They didn’t tell you why, didn’t read you your rights, or give you a lawyer. Later that day, shivering in the county jail, you find out that a few of the people in your neighborhood believed that you all had direct ties with the Russian government and had plans to overthrow the American way of life. What would you do to get out of this situation? There is no solid evidence against you, but the judges are positive you hate America and are ready to throw you and your loved ones in prison forever…unless you confess your guilt and give them the names of your “co-conspirators.” Would you stick to your guns and proclaim your innocence no matter the consequences? Would you rot in jail for your beliefs? Would you tell the prosecutors names of people you know are innocent so that you could go free? If so, who would you condemn? Why?

4. The Second Red Scare (1947-57) • Joseph R. McCarthy, U.S. senator from Wisconsin from 1946 to his death in 1957, burst on the public scene in February 1950with his claim that Communists had infiltrated the Department of State. Even though his accusations were never proved, during the next three years, McCarthy charged many government officials, members of the media, and other prominent figures with engaging in subversive activities and having Communist sympathies. The “witch hunt” climaxed in April 1954, when McCarthy accused the secretary of the navy of sheltering Communist spies. The secretary mounted a vigorous and effective defense, which exposed McCarthy’s ruthless tactics and questionable motives. As a result, McCarthy was censured by the Senate and his influence declined.

5. McCarthyism • McCarthyism is the political action of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term specifically describes activities associated with the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by heightened fears of communist influence on American institutions and espionage by Soviet agents.

6. The Salem Witch Trials • In 1692, fear and suspicion caused a slew of women and men of Salem, Mass. to be accused of witchcraft and hanged based on nothing but heresy. In total, 27 people were convicted, 19 were hanged, 1 was pressed to death, and hundreds more were jailed.

7. The Puritanical Way of Life • American Puritans valued self-reliance, industriousness, temperance, and simplicity. • The Puritans’ credo could possibly be “Humans are sinful by nature; most are damned for eternity; salvation belongs to the elect, who can be identified by their virtue; hard work and worldly success are signs of God’s grace; people should live in a thrifty, self-reliant, and simple way.” • The Puritans were also very fearful of the devil and believed that he was a true being of evil that could seduce good Puritans to do evil things. • They demanded strict conformity: dissenters were often flogged, banished, or on occasion put to death.

8. Inspired • Inspired by the acts of suspicion and a trip to Salem, Mass., Arthur Miller wrote a play, The Crucible(1953), that is an allegory for the inquisition and censure brought down on innocent citizens by McCarthy and those who were seduced by McCarthy’s fear.

9. Group Work • In groups, read documents regarding The Second Red Scare and The Salem Witch Trials. Create a compare and contrast chart like the one on the board. Paraphrase and quote from the documents in order to back up your conclusions. • Find similarities and differences in 5 of the 6 following categories: Social climate, Cultural Beliefs, Cultural Fears, Experts, Trial Proceedings, Treatment of Victims.

10. Behavioral Expectations • Talk quietly in your groups. There should be a small hum coming from our room, not a roar. I should not be able to hear individual conversations. • Respect everyone’s opinions. • Participation is key! This activity will be counted as class work. If I see that you are not working, then you will receive one warning. If you are still not participating/helping your group then you will receive a zero in the grade book. (This will be individualized. The group will not be punished for one person’s lack of participation.) • I will be playing music quietly during group work. When the music stops, so does the group work. This means that everyone should quit what they are doing and become quiet. • We will share our findings after group work is finished.

11. What did you find out?

12. Review Objectives • Understand the cultural dynamics that caused the McCarthy trials. • Understand the cultural dynamics that caused the Salem Witch Trials. • Compare and contrast the causes of the two trials.

13. Homework • Get Arthur Miller’s The Crucible • Write a paragraph about a modern situation that reminds you of the McCarthy trials and the Salem Witch trials. (A paragraph meaning: five full sentences or longer, with a clear topic sentence, and a clear closing sentence. Make sure there aren’t any run-on sentences of fragments since we have been talking about them for the last week!)