THE DEVIL'S LOOSE IN SALEM

A WebQuest for The Crucible


Introduction

In the 1690s a wave of fear and hysteria swept across Salem, Massachusetts. The town residents feared that witches had taken over their community and were secretly conspiring with the devil to do his work. This began an infamous period in American history which came to be known as The Salem Witch Trials. 250 years later, In the late 1940s and early 1950s a new kind of witch hunt was sweeping across America. This time the fear was of communism. Led by Senator Joseph McCarthy this modern day witch hunt came to be characterized by one word: McCarthyism. The resulting hysteria left Americans terrified that communists had infiltrated the country and were trying to take over America. Those who were most strongly affected were those in the movie industry. In what came to be known as The Hollywood Blacklist, many actors, writers and directors' careers were destroyed based on rumor and speculation that they were communists. In 1952, Arthur Millerwrote The Crucible, which depicts the events of the Salem Witch Hunts, as a commentary on the communist witch hunts going on during his time.

"Witchcraft," MicrosoftÆ EncartaÆ Online Encyclopedia 2002.

The Task

Your groups' task will be to research these two famous witch hunts in American history. You will learn what the town of Salem was like in the 1690s and what it is like today. You will find out how 17th century New England Puritans lived. You will take a unique and memorable exploration into what it would have been like to have been accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch hysteria. Finally, you will research the more recent American witch hunt of McCarthyism. After completing your research, you will work with your group members to create a Crucible project folder filled with the following "artifacts":

  • 1) A Travel Ad for the town of Salem
  • 2) A Puritan Guide to Life -

a "good advice" pamphlet for Puritans

  • 3) A Letter from an Accused Witch asking for help
  • 4) A Letter to Arthur Miller from a Blacklisted Hollywood writer

The Process

Step 1: Each of you will complete the WebQuest Tour Guideas you follow the links provided and explore the specified sites.

A Tour Through Salem

Go to this website and answer the following questions:

1. Where, in relation to Boston, is Salem located?

2. Why might the Puritans have chosen to settle in Salem?

3. What is Salem's nickname? (Hint: check out the police badge)

4. What are some examples of how Salem capitalizes on and promotes its witch history?

5. List and describe some tourist attractions visitors to Salem might want to see:

1.

2.

3.

Witch Hunts

Go to this website and answer the following questions:

1. How do those who confess to being witches differ from those who maintain their innocence?

2. Which government official finally puts an end to the Salem Witch Trials? What prompted him to do this?

3. What does he do with the people accused of witchcraft who are in jail awaiting trial?

4. Who is Reverend Parris' successor as minister of Salem? How does he help to heal the wounds caused by the Salem Witch Trials?

5. In the time since the witch trials ended, how have the cities of Salem and Danvers and the state of Massachusetts tried to make up for what happened to those who suffered or died?

A HOLLYWOOD Witch Hunt

Go to this website and answer the following questions:

1. What does the term HUAC stand for?

2. Why was HUAC created?

3. Which industry did HUAC launch its first major attack against?

4. What well-known senator conducted these communist "witch hunts?" What word do we use today to refer to this era in history?

5. Who were "The Hollywood Ten" and why were they arrested and jailed?

6. Why did McCarthy believe Hollywood might play a big role in a communist uprising in America?

7. In what ways did those who were accused during the McCarthy Era suffer? Why was this unfair?

8. What did it mean to be a "friendly witness" at a HUAC hearing? What happened after they testified?

9. What did "unfriendly witnesses" refuse to do? What happened to them as a result?

10. Finally, as we begin readingThe Crucibleremember that this tragedy really happened. Many real people suffered and many innocent people died during this sad period in American history. In writingThe Crucible, Arthur Miller wants to remind us all of those famous words of George Santayana:"Those who forget the past, are doomed to repeat it."

What do you think these words mean?

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Step 2:After completing the guide, each of you will be assigned to a group of four students. Each student will focus more specifically on one aspect of the research and should choose one of the following roles to play and artifacts to create.

ROLE ONE: Puritan Advisor

  • A Puritan Guide to Life- This is a "must have" forall good Puritans. Be sure to include tips on how to dress, how to behave in church and in public, tips for daily life and work and of course getting along in family relationships. You may also add any other tips you feel every good Puritan ought to know and live by. You will also want to include pictures that illustrate proper Puritan dress and behavior. Go to the following sites to find the information you will use in your pamphlet:
  • Daily Life for New England Colonists
  • Who Were The Puritans?
  • Family and Government in Puritan New England
  • Puritanism in New England

ROLE TWO: Travel Agent

  • A Travel Ad for the Town of Salem- This is an ad for prospective visitors to Salem that shows off the many places of interest and historical features of the town. What places in the town pay homage to the Salem Witch Trials that occurred there 300 years ago? Your ad should include names, descriptions and photos of places of interest that someone visiting Salem would want to go visit. What special events does the town celebrate each year that someone visiting the town might want to attend? Go to the following sites to find the information you need to create your travel ad:
  • Salem City Guide
  • "Salem - Stop By for a Spell" Article
  • Salem Area Bus Schedules
  • One Family's Salem Adventure

ROLE Three: The Accused Person

  • A Letter Pleading for Help -

Imagine it's 1692 and that you are really going through the experience of being accused of witchcraft. You have a well-respected friend who lives in New York, and you hope they can help you. Write a letter to your friend from your jail cell. Describe what is happening to you and ask for their help. Your letter should reveal both the events going on in the town, your personal experiences with being arrested and tried as a witch, as well as the emotions and feelings you are experiencing. Visit the sites below to gather the information you will use to write your letter:

  • Are You a Witch? - Interactive Site
  • Accused Witches Trial Transcripts
  • Petitions of Accused Witches Awaiting Execution
  • Letters From Gov. Phips Denouncing the Trials

ROLE Four: Hollywood Writer

  • A Letter to Arthur Miller - It is 1953, and Hollywood is in the midst of another witch hunt. You are a big Hollywood writer. Fifteen years ago, you attended a few political meetings you thought were about voicing new ideas in politics and now because of this, the House Un-American Activities Committee has blacklisted you. You can't get a job. Even though you have written some of the best scripts in Hollywood, no one will hire you or even associate with you for fear of being called communists themselves. Your life has become so difficult, almost unbearable. One day you hear Arthur Miller has written a play called The Crucible, and rumor has it that even though the play is about The Salem Witch Trials - that it's really about the communist witch hunt that you have become a victim of. Write a letter to Arthur Miller telling him about what your life has been like since the blacklist started. In your letter, discuss the many similarities you have noticed between The Crucible and the McCarthy Trials and express your personal appreciation for what Miller has been brave enough to do. Websites to visit:
  • The Hollywood Blacklist
  • House Un-American Activities Committee - HUAC
  • Arthur Miller - Biography
  • Tribute to Arthur Miller Who Died 2/10/05

**(new)**

  • Arthur Miller - "Why I Wrote the Crucible"
  • Letter From the Daughter of a Blacklisted Writer

Evaluation

Beginning
1 / Developing
2 / Accomplished
3 / Exemplary
4 / Score
Completeness / Project Folder contains two or fewer of the four required artifacts. The WebQuest Tour Guide is incomplete or missing. / Project Folder contains three or fewer of the four required artifacts. The WebQuest Tour Guide may be incomplete. / Project Folder contains all four required artifacts. The WebQuest Tour Guide may be somewhat incomplete. / Project Folder contains all four required artifacts. The WebQuest Tour Guide is fully complete.
Accuracy / The artifacts in the project folder and the WebQuest Tour Guide display numerous inaccuracies with regard to the facts. / The artifacts in the project folder and the WebQuest Tour Guide display some inaccuracies with regard to the facts. / The artifacts in the project folder and the WebQuest Tour Guide display few inaccuracies with regard to the facts. / The artifacts in the project folder and the WebQuest Tour Guide display no inaccuracies with regard to the facts.
Creativity of Design / Project artifacts show little creativity, cohesiveness, and/or effort. Project seems hastily put together and/or sloppy. / Project artifacts show some degree of creativity, cohesiveness and effort. Project may be somewhat hastily put together. / Project artifacts display creativity, cohesiveness and effort. It is clear students spent time putting the project together. / Project artifacts display a high degree of creativity, cohesiveness and effort. It is clear students spent a lot of time putting the project together.
Group Cohesiveness / Group does not communicate or work well together to create final product. Group is off-task often. / Group mostly communicates and works together well. Certain members of group are sometimes off-task. / ALL group members communicate with each other and work together to create the final product. Little off-task time. / ALL group members communicate well with each other. They work efficiently and closely together to create the final product. No off-task time.

Conclusion

This WebQuest has given you a detailed look into two dark periods in American history, frighteningly similar although separated by 250 years. The witch hunts in Salem in 1692 and those led by Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s will forever remain as tragic examples of how fear and panic over a perceived enemy, whether real or imagined, can consume a society and lead to great injustices. Have we at long last learned our lesson? Only time will tell.