1. Crucible
1953, Arthur Miller

2. The Crucible Dramatization of the Salem Witch Trials Allegorical
Took place in Salem, Massachusetts during 1692
Allegorical
Joe McCarthy
Senator from Wisconsin
Was noted for making claims that there were large numbers of Communists and Soviet spies inside the U.S. federal government
Ultimately, his inability to substantiate his claims led him to be censured by the U.S. government
McCarthyism
“[P]ractice of making accusations of disloyalty or treason without proper regard for evidence”
Suspicions given credence despite inconclusive or questionable evidence
Many people suffered loss of employment/destruction of careers – sometimes even imprisonment

3. Salem Witch Trials
Series of hearing and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft
Many people tried to prove that demons were “alive”
Believed all misfortunes were attributed to the work of the devil
Once of the most notorious cases of “mass hysteria”