THE CRUCIBLE By Arthur Miller

What was going on in History During 1940s and 50s? WWII War in Korea Communist Advances in Eastern Europe and in Asia

COMMUNISM: Anyone who undermined the government was labeled a “Communist” Anyone who disagreed with the governmental policies or decisions was considered to be un-American…

Alien Registration Act Passed by Congress in 1940, made it illegal for anyone in the U.S. to advocate of overthrowing the government Alien Residents over 14 years old had to file personal status and political beliefs

Communist Party Main goal of the ARA (Alien Registration Act) was to undermine the ACP (American Communist Party) Mainly Left Wing political groups Democrats

House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Investigated people suspected of unpatriotic behavior This was the best tool to discover those who were attempting to overthrow the government. Investigated Hollywood Motion Picture Industry 19 people accused of holding left wing views “Hollywood Ten” refused to give accounts-as a result served 6-12 months in prison

RED CHANNEL Published a list of 151 writers, directors, and performers who they claimed were members of subversive organizations prior to WW2, but had NOT been blacklisted.

BLACKLISTED: All accused people remained on the list until they agreed to come forward and testify they had turned from their “Communist ways.” YOU HAD TO GIVE NAMES, OTHERWISE YOU REMAINED ON THE BLACK LIST!

Senator Joseph McCarthy… The man behind it all

Joseph McCarthy: Who was he? Senator from Wisconsin Feb 9th 1950: McCarthy made a list of 57 people in the State Department whom he believed to have Communist connections People screened for more than having communist connections. Interrogations included questions about their personal lives. Backfired for McCarthy: he would be questioned about his alcoholism and sexual past.

McCarthy on the RAMPAGE!! He spent the next two years as part of a committee who investigated government departments and large groups of people about their suspicious political past The only way to “save your own skin” was to name people who you thought were/are part of communist organizations (even if you lied).

WITCH HUNT: anti-communist hysteria This witch-hunt known as anti-communist hysteria is what we now refer to as McCarthyism Politicians were unwilling to criticize McCarthy in Senate. Anti-American books in libraries As a result, 30,000 books associated with Communism were removed from the shelves.

McCarthyism continued... Opponents of McCarthy questioned his sexual orientation. As a result, he married his secretary Jeannie Kerr to stop the accusations. McCarthy targeted the military for anti-communist connection/activities He attempted to have The Secretary of Army discredited This made President Eisenhower mad (Eisenhower then tried to put an end to McCarthy’s activities)

McCarthy Under Attack! President United States Army Media “In this long, degrading travesty of the democratic process, McCarthy has shown himself to be evil and unmatched in malice” (Louisville Journal).

McCarthy’s Downfall Lost position as Chairman of Government Committee on Operations of the Senate No power: no media would publish his stories anymore. End of McCarthyism (Late 1950s) Died of liver disease, due to alcoholism, in 1957

ARTHUR MILLER

HISTORICAL FICTION FICTION BASED UPON FACT DISCLAIMER AT THE BEGINNING OF MOVIES The Crucible is based upon an historical event: The Salem Witch Trials

BACKGROUND Born in 1915; Died in 2005 Grew up during the depression Intrigued with the events of 1940s and 50s Wrote a Screenplay Called “THE HOOK” Submitted screenplay to Harry Cohn (who showed it to the FBI) He suggested to have the gangsters referred to as “communist.” Miller realized this behavior was crazy

WITCHCRAFT TRIALS They began in 1692 Miller read about the trials in college Read book published in 1867 which held personal accounts of the persecuted in Salem Miller visited Salem in 1952 Read actual reports issued by Rev. Parris Story of infidelity interested him because he was having troubles in his own marriage John Proctor became his inspiration because Miller felt he spoke TRUTH Caused problems because people became suspicious about the link between the Red Hunt and the Witch Hunt

LINK ARTHUR MILLER SAW A LINK BETWEEN McCARTHYISM AND THE WITCH TRIALS OF 1692 Thoughts and intentions meant more than actual fact (true for both cases) The more he read about the Salem trials the more interested he became

THE CRUCIBLE Relates to societal and personal issues The language intrigued him The Crucible took 1 year to write. Opening night was on Jan. 22, 1953 Nobody liked it 1 year later it became a hit in Martinique People liked the play because of the themes: Relates to societal and personal issues Hidden abuse situations Mass hysteria

Interesting Arthur Miller fact… He was married to Marilyn Monroe for a short time… 

YOUR QUIZ (next time…) Will cover information from the video, packet, and power point Short answer questions You may use 2 of the 3 notes on the quiz (video, packet, or power point) Worth: 30 points