Historical Introduction to

The Crucible

Miss Glass

1 February 2011

Puritan Life In AmericaSought religious freedom Separate from Church of EnglandTheocracy: a union of church and

state.

Puritan Beliefs:Predestined for heaven

Rigid rules and beliefsTo be different meant to

be controlled by evilPreached “fire and

brimstone”threatening punishment in the hereafter

Salem, MassachusettsNortheast of BostonEstablished: 1626Salem means “City of Peace”Roger Conant and John Endicott

1692 Salem HistoryA Great Divide

Salem Town: wealthy merchants; trade with London

Salem Village: poor farmers wanted independence

Salem Village divisionsMerchants vs. FarmersReverend Samuel Parris

A History of Witch Hunts

Definition of “witch” in the 17th CenturyOne who had made a pact with the

devil (the Christian embodiment of evil) by exchanging soul for evil powers

Sin because denied God’s superiority

16th and 17th century Europe: 1-9 million accused and executedPracticed surviving folk customs

from Pre-Christian timesViewed as “heresy”

http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/bcr/salem/salem.html

A History of Witch Hunts1484: Pope Innocent VIII, Germany

Casting spells to destroy crops & abort infants

1500-1660: Reformation in Europe50,000-80,000 suspected witches executed.

1536: Henry VIII of EnglandAccused Anne Boleyn, of witchcraft

1591: James I of EnglandLargest witch hunt in British history

Salem Witch Trials, 1692

Salem Witchcraft Trials, 1692 How did it all begin?

Minister’s daughter and other girls were affected by seizures and fits of unconsciousness

No medical explanation Tituba, Sarah Good, And Sarah Osburne named

as witchesTituba admitted to witchcraft

Girls continued to accuseNo proof other than someone’s accusation was

requiredMust admit to witchcraft, repent, and name associates

In the end, 20 people executed and at least 150 jailed

Connect to Communism Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

Investigated un-American & subversive activities

Late 1940s-1950s known as the “Red Scare”Heightened fear of Communist influence on American

institutions and espionage by Soviet agents

Senator Joseph McCarthy from WisconsinClaimed 200 Communists had infiltrated the US

government

McCarthy Investigations McCarthy led

investigationsMostly government employees,

union members, writers, and entertainers 320 artists placed on blacklist,

which ended their careers

Hollywood Blacklist: “We will not knowingly employ a Communist or a member of any party or group which advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States”

Must name other members of the party in order to prove abandoned left-wing views

McCarthy’s Downfall McCarthy began

televised hearings into Communists in the US Army

“McCarthy has shown himself to be evil and unmatched in malice.”

… the Louisville Courier-Journal

McCarthy’s Downfall McCarthy’s actions condemned December 2,

1954

"The line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one and the junior Senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep into our own history and our doctrine and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes which were for the moment unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthy's methods to keep silent. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result."

- Edwin Murrow

“Red Scare” hysteria calmed down

Arthur Miller

Born 1915 in NY 1932: Graduate from Lincoln

HSTook two years to earn

money for tuition 1934: Enroll at University of

MichiganBegan writing drama in

college 1947: All My Sons opened on

Broadway 1949: Won Pulitzer Prize for

Death of a Salesman 1953: The Crucible 1956: Married Marilyn

Monroe Marriage lasted 5 years

Repercussions of The Crucible

After The Crucible, Miller was investigated for possible associations with the Communist Party

1956: Called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities

Never joined Communist party but advocated social justice and equality

Refused to discuss associatesFound in contempt of Congress