The Crucible

Background Information

What is a crucible?

• A severe test• A place or situation in which concentrated

forces interact to cause or influence change in development– www.dictionary.com

Arthur Miller

• Born in New York in 1915• Playwright• One of 3 great dramatists of the century• Death of a Salesman• The Crucible

Joseph McCarthy

• 1908-1957• American politician • Led a campaign against Communism in the

early 1950s• Accused many high-ranking officials

HUAC

• House of Un-American Activities Committee• Formed in 1937 to investigate any

questionable ‘communist’ activities

Blacklist

• A secret list of names in which certain privileges are taken away from a group of people for a particular reason

• Results in a loss of work etc. for the people• 1940s-1950s accused group of people who

were said to have involvement with the Communist party

Hollywood Ten

• Writers, directors, producers• Ten men called to testify • Refused to tell the committee whether or not

they belonged to the Communist Party• Insisted the questions violated their rights as a

result, they were imprisoned for 6mo-1yr

Hysteria

• An uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping, etc.

• www.dictionary.com• The result of accusations and confusion in

Salem, Massachusetts resulting in the execution of 20 people

Torture & Beliefs

• Screws• Sawed in Two• Superstitions– Rabbits foot– Horseshoe above door

• Amulets & Charms

Timeline of Events

• 1629 Salem is settled• 1641 English law makes witchcraft a capital crime• 1689 Parris named minister of Salem• January, 1692 Abigail Williams and other girls

begin acting out of sorts• July, 1692 Rebecca Nurse and others hanged• 1957 Massachusetts apologizes for events of

1692

Rebecca Nurse’s trial

Bridget Bishop’s death