MCCARTHYISM/RED SCARE INTRODUCTION The Crucible

Get out a piece of paper… Copy each statement and write “Agree” or “Disagree” after each statement based on your own feelings towards it. 1) Confessing to a crime you didn’t commit in order to avoid punishment is wise. 2) The difference between right and wrong is clear. 3) It is better to die for what you believe in rather than to lie to save your life. 4) There is only one correct way to interpret the Bible. 5) That which doesn’t destroy us only makes us stronger.

6) It’s more difficult to forgive yourself if the person you have hurt doesn’t forgive you. 7) Courage means doing something even though it can be difficult and fearsome. 8) A person is innocent until proven guilty. 9) Beliefs in opposition to common values should be illegal. 10) Justice is best determined in a court of law.

What is Communism?  The idea that all people hold the land, businesses, etc. in trust. Things are shared equally by the people.  There is no low or upper class = everyone is equal.  Not executed correctly by Lenin and Stalin.  The goods/money went to the government, not the people.  People who worked for the government received better food and living space…many people tried to work for the government because of this.

What is a Democracy?  The government that is elected by the people.  All the people should be able to have their way in one way or another in everything that affects their lives.  Has capitalism where you can invest your money and grow a business = lower, middle, upper class.

What happened in the 1930’s?  People started to like the idea of Communism because they had no money (Great Depression) and were unemployed.  People started to fear that communism would take over the United States…and this escalated in the 1950’s.

How does this relate to The Crucible?

Puritan Lifestyle Came to America to escape persecution by the Church of England. Bible and its message were above man’s law and the key to salvation. Believed in hard work, self- discipline, and religious duty.

Puritan Life - Devil's Work & Salem  Those who engaged in gossip, dancing, drunkenness, adultery, and other activities were subjected to public humiliation and punishment.  Puritans were paranoid, suspicious of each other, and quick to place blame.  Tension and paranoia created the perfect equation for the Witch-hunt.  By the end of the trials, nineteen men and women were hanged, one was pressed to death, and many others died in prison while awaiting trial.

The “Red Scare” and McCarthyism  Post- WWI, “Red Scare” took hold of the nation.  Communists or “Reds” were seen as a threat to democracy of the U.S.  Many people were questioned and then jailed for expressing any view which was seen as anti-Democratic or anti-American.  House Un-American Activities Committee was established in  Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed to have a list of over 200 members of the Communist party.

“Hollywood Ten”  Hollywood was targeted as attempting to propagandize Communist beliefs.  HUAC called nineteen witnesses – most of whom were actors, directors, and writers. 10 refused to speak.  Resulted in a decade-long blacklist of people who worked in Hollywood.

Arthur Miller - Miller wrote The Crucible, in 1953 as a result of the McCarthy Trials. - - His setting: 1692 Salem, Mass. - - He was called to testify in front of the HCUA because of his play.

s The Crucible vs. The “Red Scare”

s  Puritans in Salem, MA  Witch-hunts because of fear and tension, paranoia and suspicion of non-Christian activities.  Puritans began to point fingers at one another. Americans thought to be Communists Trials because of fear, hysteria, and paranoia for any un-American activities. Workers in Hollywood were told to point the finger. The Crucible vs. The “Red Scare”

The main purpose of an allegory is to tell a story that has characters, a setting, as well as other types of symbols, that have both literal and figurative meanings. An allegory can be fables, songs, poems, stories, and almost any other style or genre. The Crucible is a play which represents something much deeper. In this case, the story is about the Salem witch trials of 1692, but warns of history repeating these tragic events in This is called an ALLEGORY

Historical Context Worksheet  Read the handout Historical Context: The Red Scare and McCarthyism Trials. Answer the questions that are located on the back page of the handout on your own sheet of paper.