THE PURITANS

Early American settlers Early American settlers Fled England to come to America to practice their form of Christianity freely Fled England to come to America to practice their form of Christianity freely Disagreed with ornamentation, especially in the church Disagreed with ornamentation, especially in the church Agrarian society Agrarian society Also called Separatists, Pilgrims Also called Separatists, Pilgrims

WHAT THEY BELIEVED Believed that salvation was not guaranteed Believed that salvation was not guaranteed Predestination: Predestination: God has already determined who will go to heaven and who will not God has already determined who will go to heaven and who will not Hard work, a good heart that bears fruit through good works earns salvation Hard work, a good heart that bears fruit through good works earns salvation Faithful believers would not know if salvation achieved until death and transition to heaven or hell Faithful believers would not know if salvation achieved until death and transition to heaven or hell

WHAT THEY BELIEVED Strong superstitions Strong superstitions Unified in townships for safety from harsh wilderness Unified in townships for safety from harsh wilderness Believed the wilderness was the realm of the devil and his minions Believed the wilderness was the realm of the devil and his minions Lived in a state of fear, adhering to a strict set of rules Lived in a state of fear, adhering to a strict set of rules

THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS Occurred in 1692 Occurred in 1692 Mass hysteria erupted in Massachusetts colony concerning the presence of witches Mass hysteria erupted in Massachusetts colony concerning the presence of witches 19 people and 2 dogs hanged for the crime 19 people and 2 dogs hanged for the crime Court used circumstantial evidence as a means to convict Court used circumstantial evidence as a means to convict

THE ARTHUR MILLER PLAY The Crucible first opened in New York in 1953 The Crucible first opened in New York in 1953 The play is Miller’s response to McCarthyism The play is Miller’s response to McCarthyism McCarthyism: a movement, founded by Senator Joseph McCarthy, that sought to seek out Communists within the United States in the 1950’s McCarthyism: a movement, founded by Senator Joseph McCarthy, that sought to seek out Communists within the United States in the 1950’s McCarthy believed these people sought to undermine the US government and their policy of Containment (of Communism) McCarthy believed these people sought to undermine the US government and their policy of Containment (of Communism)

THE ARTHUR MILLER PLAY Also called “the Red Scare” Also called “the Red Scare” Many were forced to turn in others based on circumstantial evidence Many were forced to turn in others based on circumstantial evidence Difficult to choose a side morally, since the accused have a right to free expression, even if it is contrary to the government’s (or local leadership’s) position Difficult to choose a side morally, since the accused have a right to free expression, even if it is contrary to the government’s (or local leadership’s) position Miller sought to comment on the current state of American ideology Miller sought to comment on the current state of American ideology