The Crucible & McCarthyism

The Cold War in America At the end of World War II, the United States and the USSR emerged as the world’s major powers. They also became involved in the Cold War, a state of hostility (short of direct military conflict) between the two nations.

The Cold War in America Many Americans feared not only Communism around the world but also disloyalty at home. They were suspicious about Communist infiltration in the U.S.

The Cold War in America A Communist could be anybody. To many people in 1953, a Communist was just as scary as the boogey-man and a lot more real.

(HUAC) Congress began to investigate suspicions of disloyalty. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) sought to expose Communist influence in American life.

Beginning in the late 1940s, the committee called witnesses and investigated the entertainment industry. Prominent film directors and screenwriters who refused to cooperate were imprisoned on contempt charges.

Joseph McCarthy Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin gained power by accusing others of subversion.

Joseph McCarthy In February 1950, a few months after the USSR detonated its first atomic device, McCarthy claimed to have a list of 205 Communists who worked in the State Department.

McCarthyism Fears of subversion continued. Communities banned books; teachers, academics, civil servants, and entertainers lost jobs; unwarranted attacks ruined lives.

The HUAC and Hollywood HUAC investigated communism within Hollywood, calling a number of playwrights, directors and actors known for left-wing views to testify. the Hollywood Ten, a group of entertainers, refused to testify and were convicted of contempt and sentenced to up to one year in prison.

The Hollywood Ten These industry workers called before the HUAC to testify about their ties to communism knew they had three options: They could claim they were not and never had been members of the Communist Party (this would have meant perjuring themselves) they could admit or claim membership and then be forced to name other members (and this would have meant losing their jobs both because of their former membership and their dubious position as informers) or they could refuse to answer any questions (which is the choice they made).

Blacklisting Over 300 entertainers were placed on a blacklist for possible communist views and were thus forbidden to work for major Hollywood studios. Arthur Miller was one of those blacklisted.

Miller admitted to the HUAC that he had attended meetings, but denied that he was a Communist. Refusing to name others who had associated with leftist or suspected Communist groups, Miller was cited for contempt of Congress

Even if you were not a Communist yourself, you could get in trouble if you knew someone that was. “Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?” No. “Do you know anyone who is or was a Communist?” No. McCarthy holds up some cards. “We have the names of people who have already confessed.

Imagine this… Your name came up in connection with their testimony. Why do you suppose that is?” You say you don’t know, but you can tell that no one believes you. Maybe you’re not so innocent after all, you think. Have you signed anything, donated any money, said anything to anybody that might sound suspicious? You begin to feel guilty either way: even if you don’t have any Communist connections, you’ve done nothing to stop the spread of this evil. You did it, it’s your fault, their questions seem to say. And they won’t let you go until you make up for it in some way. So you tell them about your friend who’s never home on Tuesday nights, or anyone you know who’s been acting a little odd the last few weeks. You name names, and they let you go. And afterward no one wants anything to do with you. You were called in to testify, there had to be a reason. You must be a Communist, or at least have been working for them. You lose your friends, your job, sometimes even your family.

Miller did not writeThe Crucible simply as a straight historical play detailing the Salem witch trials. The play is an allegory for the McCarthy era, in which similar “witch hunts” occurred targeting citizens as Communists rather than disciples of the Devil.

What does “crucible” mean? 1. a vessel of a very refractory material (as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat 2. a severe test 3. a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development