The Crucible WebQuest
10th Grade English
Mary Lawrence
Madonna University
Introduction:
You have now completed reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller. As a time travelling journalist,
I am sending you to America, 1692. Your task will be to conduct in depth research into the
Puritan faith and the Salem Witch Trails to give you a better understanding of the time period
and the people living through it. You will be answering the questions; how did it start? Who
propagated it? What happened? Why/How did it end? Once you have gained sufficient
knowledge about the Salem Witch Trials, you will be transported 300 years to America, 1950.
You will conduct your research, this time looking into Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Red
Scare. I want you to find out who Senator McCarthy was, what was McCarthyism, and what was
the movement called ‘The Red Scare’. Finally, once you have conducted your research, I want
you to write a compare and contrast essay, comparing The Salem Witch Trials and
McCarthyism. I want you to answer the questions, how are they similar and what ways are they
different? Okay journalists, get to it. Good luck!
Salem Aprill. 4'th 1692
There Being Complaint this day made (Before us) by capt
Jonat Walcott, and Lt Natheniell Ingersull both of Salem
Village, in Behalfe of theire Majesties for themselfes and
also for severall of their Neighbours Against Sarah Cloyce
the wife of peter Cloyce of Salem Village; and Elizabeth
Proctor the wife of John Proctor of Salem farmes for high
Suspition of Sundry acts of Witchcraft donne or Committed
by them upon the bodys of Abigail Williams, and John
Indian both of Mr Sam Parris his family of Salem Village
and mary Walcott daughter of the abovesaid Complainants,
And Ann Putnam and Marcy Lewis of the famyly of Thomas
Putnam of Salem Village whereby great hurt and dammage
hath beene donne to the Bodys of s'd persons above named
therefore Craved Justice.
You are therefore in theire Majest's names hereby required
to apprehend and bring before us Sarah Cloyce the wife of
peter Cloyce of Salem Village and Elizabeth proctor the wife
of John Procter of Salem farmes; on Munday Morneing Next
being the Eleventh day of this Instant Aprill aboute Eleven
of the Clock, at the publike Meeting house in the Towne, in
order to theire Examination Relateing to the premesis
aboves'd and here of you are. not to faile Dated Salem Aprill
8'th 1692
Task:
To George
Herick Marshall of the County of essex
John Hathorne
Jonathan Corwin Assists
Task:
The objective for this lesson is for you to gain an understanding of the similarities between both
movements. Also to understand in what ways The Crucible was Arthur Miller’s commentary on
the time in which he lived. In completion of this assignment you will hand in a paper that should
meet the following requirements:
1. At least two Pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font
2. Compare or contrast the Salem Witch Trails and the Red Scare of the 1950’s. You must
compare and contrast 3 different aspects of the time. You could compare religious
beliefs, the fear of witches/communism, or the leadership of both movements. You can
decide based on your research, but your paper must contain three different ways you are
comparing/contrasting them.
3. The paper should also include a paragraph with your thoughts. Why do you think people
were so scared of witches/communism? Do you think Arthur Miller’s play helped people
in the 1950’s to see the injustice in their own society? Do you think literature can be an
avenue for positive social change?
Process/Resources:
For your research, you will read the following articles about Puritans, the Salem Witch Trials, and
McCarthyism. You will have two class periods to complete the research. Anything you do not complete
in class will be homework. You may conduct your research with partners/groups, but you will each turn
in your own paper.
1. Puritans
o
http://www.history.com/topics/puritanism Read the article or watch the supplementary
videos about the Puritanism
o
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/484034/Puritanism Summary of the Puritan
faith
o
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=etas A Sermon
called “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
2. The Salem Witch Trials
o
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm Browse the different tabs
on this website to learn more about the actual trials and to see and the actual arrest
warrant for Elizabeth Proctor
o
http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/education/faqs Frequently Asked Questions about
the Salem Witch Trials
3. McCarthyism/Red Scare
o
http://www.ushistory.org/us/53a.asp Read about Senator Joseph McCarthy and
“McCarthyism”
o
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/red-scare Read about the Red Scare in America
in the 1950’s
o
http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/teachinger/glossary/huac.cfm An article on the House of
Un-American Activities Committee and their process for accusing people of Communism
Research Report : The Crucible
Teacher Name: Mary Lawrence
Student Name:
________________________________________
4
3
2
1
Amount of
Information
All topics are
addressed and all
questions answered
with at least 3 aspects
of the Salem Witch
Trials/McCarthyism
compared/contrasted
All topics are
addressed and most
questions answered
with at least 2 aspects
of the Salem Witch
Trials/McCarthyism
compared/contrasted
All topics are
addressed, and most
questions answered
with 1 aspect of the
Salem Witch
Trials/McCarthyism
compared/contrasted
One or more topics
were not
addressed.
Organization
Information is very
organized with wellconstructed
paragraphs and
subheadings.
Information is
organized with wellconstructed
paragraphs.
Information is
organized, but
paragraphs are not
well-constructed.
The information
appears to be
disorganized.
Internet Use
Successfully uses
suggested internet
links to find information
and navigates within
these sites easily
without assistance.
Usually able to use
suggested internet
links to find information
and navigates within
these sites easily
without assistance.
Occasionally able to
use suggested internet
links to find information
and navigates within
these sites easily
without assistance.
Needs assistance
or supervision to
use suggested
internet links and/or
to navigate within
these sites.
Sources
All sources (information
and graphics) are
accurately documented
in the desired format.
All sources (information
and graphics) are
accurately
documented, but a few
are not in the desired
format.
All sources (information Some sources are
and graphics) are
not accurately
accurately
documented.
documented, but many
are not in the desired
format.
CATEGORY
Conclusion:
Congratulations! You have learned about the troubled times of the Salem Witch Trials and how
it parallels the Red Scare during the 1950’s! Some food for thought on completing this activity;
Arthur Miller was brought before the House Committee of Un-American Activities, and refused
to provide names of communist sympathizers. Do you think that Arthur Miller thought of
himself as a John Proctor, unwilling to give in to pressures from the government to betray his
friends? Can you see any other parallels between Arthur Miller and John Proctor? What about
Joseph McCarthy and Governor Danforth? Why do you think Arthur Miller felt compelled to
write this play? One final thought: John Proctor declares “Because it is my name! Because I
cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the
dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul;
leave me my name!” (Act IV). After learning about two times in history where people were
accusing each other without evidence, how important do you think it is to preserve someone’s
good name? How can you protect others reputations right now?