The Crucible Discovery of the Salem Witch Trials

A Brief History of Witchcraft n How was witchcraft viewed in 17th century New England? n How could one be proven a witch? n Who were considered witches?

Salem Witch Trials in 1692 n What started the witch trials? n What made 1692 special? n What is the difference between the “accused” and the “afflicted”? n What caused the girls’ behavior?

Judicial Process for the Trials n Who was Tituba and what role did she play? n Were only women accused? n What judicial process was followed?

Guilt or Innocence? n Who determined who was a witch? n Could someone prove their innocence? n What was the churches stance on witchcraft?

The Executions n Who was executed during the trials? n How were the “witches” executed and why? n Where were the victims buried?

Timeframe of Events n How long did the witch trials last? n Why did they eventually end? n What was the aftermath of the trials?

Salem in the 20th Century n How can I find out more about the Salem witch trials? n Are there sources of information on the internet? n If I go to Salem can I see the house of a “witch”?

Contemporary Perceptions n What do we believe of witchcraft today? n What is the relationship between the Salem Witch trials and the Red Scare in the 1950’s? n Could something like the Salem Witch trials happen again today?

“The Crucible” n Why did Arthur Miller write the play? n How accurate is the play? n Why does the movie portray inaccuracies? n What are the implications of learning “history” through art? n What are the current implications of the racial misidentification of Tituba as African?