McCarthyism & The Crucible
As we discuss the background and history as to why Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible, answer these questions or statements. Pay
attention because Mrs. Bryan is not going to repeat answers over and over. Remember that you do not have to write down every
word that appears on the screen. Only write down the important points. Here we go…
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McCarthyism and the Red Scare of the 1950’s
A.
Why were Americans so scared during the 1950’s & 1960’s? slides 1-7
B.
What did Senator Joseph McCarthy have to do with the Red Scare of the 1950’s? slides 8-10
C.
What is the HUAC, and what did it set out to do? Slides 11-12
Blacklists
A.
Who was most likely to be named on these lists? Slides 13-17
B.
What happened to those accused by Joseph McCarthy and the HUAC? Slides 18-19 & Slide 23
C.
What happened to McCarthy and his “witch hunt”? Slides 20-22
And So The Play Begins
A.
Why did Arthur Miller write The Crucible? Slide 24
B.
Which definition of a CRUCIBLE best fits from those given? Write it here. Slide 26
C.
What part of the Puritan lifestyle was centered on religion and church? Slide 27
D. What is a Theocracy? Slide 28
E.
List 5 traits of the Puritans from the video and lists. Slides 29-30 & video from last class
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Hysteria
A. How did the Puritans define witchcraft? Slide 31-33
B.
With whom did the accusations center? Slide 34 – draw the graphic
C.
What are some possible causes for the hysteria in Salem? Slides 36
D. What happened in the next 8 months in Salem? Slide 37
5.
Compare/Contrast the events to actual historical events Slided 40-45
A. List 4 ways in which the discussed historical events link to what you have learned about the play. Be specific in your
answers.
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