McCarthyism and Arthur Miller How 1950’s America inspired “The Crucible”

Essential Question How can people use their power to make a difference in their lives and  the lives of others? 

1945 World War II ends U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. had been united in their defeat of Nazi Germany. The Cold War begins.

1945 cont. The House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) begins conducting investigations into Communists living in the USA. “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?”

Communism -a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

President Harry Truman 1947 As a result of accusations made against government employees, President Truman (Democrat) begins enforcing ‘loyalty reviews’ of all civil servants. These reviews were designed by the Director of the F.B.I., J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover was regarded as the country’s most powerful anti-communist. President Harry Truman

1947 cont. H.U.A.C. (House on Un-American Activities Committee)  begins subpoenaing movie industry professionals. Those brought before the committee are expected to “name names” of other people that they had seen at Communist meetings.

The Hollywood Ten Ten of Hollywood’s most well known movie professionals were brought in front of HUAC. They refused to answer any questions asked of them under the First Amendment (The right to freedom of speech). This was not successful and all 10 were sentenced to prison for contempt of Congress.

November 1947 Eric Johnston, the President of the Motion Picture Association of America, announces that they... “…will not knowingly employ a Communist or a member of any party or group which advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States.” This statement confirmed that those seen not to be cooperating with HUAC would be blacklisted from the film industry.

1949 USSR tests an atomic bomb. China becomes a Communist country. Fear and hysteria are spreading throughout the country.

1950 The Korean War begins (U.S., U.N. and S. Korea against Communist N. Korea and China) Communist spies start emerging in U.S.A. and U.K. Arthur Miller begins to consider writing a play about what he is witnessing.

1952 Elia Kazan, film director and friend of Arthur Miller, is called in front of HUAC and names eight people as being members of The Communist Party. Arthur Miller visits Salem, MA., to study the transcripts of the 17th Century witch trials. He pens the play “The Crucible.”

1953 Dwight Eisenhower (Republican) becomes President. He continues the loyalty reviews of government employees. Senator Joseph McCarthy is made chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Operations and begins his own investigations into finding Communists. His approach is aggressive and persistent. The first production of “The Crucible” opens on Broadway.

1953-54 McCarthy begins investigating the U.S. Army. Opinion polls drop and he becomes an object for ridicule. One senate committee found McCarthy’s behavior as a chairman to be “inexcusable,” “reprehensible,” “vulgar” and “insulting.”

Arthur Miller Subpoenaed 1956 - Arthur Miller is called before HUAC. Before the meeting Miller is assured that he will not be asked to name names. Miller arrives at the hearing with his soon to be wife Marilyn Monroe. During the questioning the chairman goes back on his promise and asks Miller to give names.

Miller replies “I could not use the name of another person and bring trouble on him” Miller is found in contempt of Congress. He is sentenced to a $500 fine or 30 days in prison, is blacklisted and disallowed a U.S. passport. In 1958 his charge is overturned.

1959 - Former President Truman declares HUAC “the most un-American thing in the country today.” 1994 - Over 6 million copies of “The Crucible” sold worldwide. 1999 - Elia Kazan receives an honorary Oscar. The crowd are noticeably split in their response. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YziNNCZeNs

The Hollywood Ten The following people were cited for contempt of Congress and blacklisted after refusing to answer HUAC questions about their alleged involvement with the Communist Party: Alvah Bessie, screenwriter Herbert Biberman, screenwriter and director Lester Cole, screenwriter Edward Dmytryk, director Ring Lardner Jr., screenwriter John Howard Lawson, screenwriter Albert Maltz, screenwriter Samuel Ornitz, screenwriter Adrian Scott, producer and screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, screenwriter Others Hanns Eisler, composer Bernard Gordon, screenwriter Joan Scott, screenwriter

The End