Guided Notes- McCarthyism and The Crucible

The Second Red Scare:
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s America was overwhelmed with concerns about the threat of communism growing in Eastern Europe and China after the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II.

Was the Fear Justified:

Because the Communist Party in the United States helped to organize labor unions and was opposed to fascism, it gained a membership of about 75,000 members in 1940-1941.

The Cold War:
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The One Thing That Scared Us:

*The Soviet Union tested an atomic bomb in 1949, earlier than many analysts had expected.

Another Thing That Scared Us:

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And also

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Who is Joseph McCarthy?

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House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

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HUAC Investigates Hollywood:

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The Committee Wants to Know:
“Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party of the United States?”

Hollywood Ten:

Were among the first ______witnesses subpoenaed by the committee. These ten ______cooperate and ______.

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Real Life Repercussions:

The ten were sentenced to ______in prison for contempt of Congress. They were also ______from working in the film industry until ______

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Arthur Miller (author of The Crucible) and HUAC:

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*Miller applied for a passport and the HUAC used this as an opportunity to subpoena him before the committee.
*Before appearing Miller asked the committee to not ask him to name names ___
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Miller in Trouble:

  • Miller refused ______
  • Miller was fined______, ______, ______, and ______.

Banned Books:

*McCarthy examined authors for allegations of Communism influence.
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*Some libraries actually burned the newly forbidden books.

Army-McCarthy Hearings:

McCarthy next turned his attention to the case of a U.S. Army dentist who had been promoted to the rank of major despite having refused to answer questions on an Army loyalty review form. McCarthy's handling of this investigation, including a series of insults directed at a brigadier general, led to the Army-McCarthy hearings.

A New Target:

McCarthy's committee then began an investigation into the United States Army. McCarthy garnered some headlines with stories of a dangerous spy ring among the Army researchers, but ultimately nothing came of this investigation.

The Army and McCarthy traded charges and counter-charges for 36 days before a nationwide television audience. While the official outcome of the hearings was inconclusive, this exposure of McCarthy to the American public resulted in a sharp decline in his popularity

McCarthy Fall from Popularity:

In less than a year, McCarthy’s position as a prominent force in anti-communism was essentially ended. On December 2, 1954, the Senate voted to censure Senator McCarthy by a vote of 67 to 22, making him one of the few senators ever to be disciplined in this fashion.

About three years later:

  • Died ______.
  • Official cause of death______.

Victims of McCarthyism:

  • The number ______, and ______
    ______. Some of those who were imprisoned or lost their jobs______.But for most, ______

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Homosexuals Targeted:

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* The hunt for “sexual perverts”______.

The Crucible and McCarthyism:

The play focused heavily on the fact that ______, ______
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Part I Overview:

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American Drama:

* 1950s drama was heavily influence by:
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* The Crucible ______.

Arthur Miller: Overview
*Born in 1915 in New York City
*His father’s business failed because of the Depression
*Family moved around a lot because of poverty
*Attended the University of Michigan
*Returned to NYC after graduating college
*Finally had a play of his on Broadway
*All My Sons (1947)
*In 1949, wrote Death of a Salesman
*Married Marilyn Monroe (lucky guy!)
*Divorced after a few years
*Had three wives altogether
*Wrote The Crucible in the early 1950s
*Was accused of being a Communist
*Died in 2005

Overview: Salem, Massachusetts

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* Nicknamed Witch City

Overview: Issues/Thematic Ideas:

* Greed:
* Guilt:
* Motivation:
* Morality:
How do these fit into our ideas of America?

The Facts:

* Young girl named Betty Parris becomes ill
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* More children in Salem become ill.

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*Doctors were called to find the source of the illness

BUT:

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Why did this happen?:

*people were suspicious and fearful

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The Crucible and Communism:

Allegory:

Comparing the play to the Red Scare

Can you see how these historical events are similar to those of the Salem Witch Trials?

Character Information:

Abigail Williams:

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John Proctor:

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Elizabeth Proctor:
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The Girls:

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Reverend Parris:
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John Hale:
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Tituba: