Witch Hunts in America.
1. Introduction Most American’s have heard of the Salem Witch Trials, but most don’t know what had happened when Senator Joseph McCarthy announced during a speech that he had the names of over 200 members of the Department of State that are "known communists." (History) The speech was made during a time when fear of communists was at an all-time high in America. As such McCarthy’s accusations sparked a nationwide fear about communist collaborators in the American government. It is for this reason, Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible” a play that describes the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 and showed the similarities of the terrible period in American history known as “McCarthyism.” (Crimson) The lies told during The …show more content…
His parents, Isidore and Augusta Miller were Jewish immigrates who had become moderately affluent by owning and operating a garment business. However, in 1929 the family nearly lost everything they owned in the Wall Street Crash. Due to these losses, the family move to smaller home in Brooklyn and were forced to give up many of the luxuries they once enjoyed. Seeing once prosperous business owners now begging for work had a profound effect on how Miller saw the world and the plays he wrote. After high school, Miller attended the University of Michigan and began writing plays. His first Broadway play was The Man Who Had All the Luck, which opened in 1944 but received bad reviews and closed after just four performances. His next play All My Sons, received the Drama Critics' Circle Award. Death of a Salesman was written in 1949 and won the Pulitzer Prize. The Crucible was written in 1953 which told the story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692. After spending three days in a Salem library reviewing the Salem trials court transcripts, Miller realized the witch trials were conducted in the same manner as McCarthy conducted his communist hunt. "I longed to respond to this climate of fear." "The Crucible," he said, was his response. (Crimson) Having seeing such atrocities up close, Miller could no longer remain …show more content…
McCarthy was convinced, or pretended to be convinced that there were communists in Hollywood, as such the House Un-American Activities Committee investigated the Screen Actors Guild and developed a Hollywood Blacklist. McCarthy and his followers went after any and everybody they wanted to accuse of being a communist. When in reality he was only interested in furthering his own political career regardless of the cost to others. Effective propaganda, convincing speeches, and influence from the Cold War made McCarthy famous. He was on a witch-hunt, looking for alleged communists despite the fact that they if they did exist they could not be found where he was looking.
Just like was true with those who lead the Salem Witch Trials, McCarthy needed to be important and to maintain reverence of Americans. This lead to leaders of the Un-American Activities group proceeded without any evidence or regard for those who they accused just as was done during the Salem Witch Trials.
5. Writing The
1. Introduction Most American’s have heard of the Salem Witch Trials, but most don’t know what had happened when Senator Joseph McCarthy announced during a speech that he had the names of over 200 members of the Department of State that are "known communists." (History) The speech was made during a time when fear of communists was at an all-time high in America. As such McCarthy’s accusations sparked a nationwide fear about communist collaborators in the American government. It is for this reason, Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible” a play that describes the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 and showed the similarities of the terrible period in American history known as “McCarthyism.” (Crimson) The lies told during The …show more content…
His parents, Isidore and Augusta Miller were Jewish immigrates who had become moderately affluent by owning and operating a garment business. However, in 1929 the family nearly lost everything they owned in the Wall Street Crash. Due to these losses, the family move to smaller home in Brooklyn and were forced to give up many of the luxuries they once enjoyed. Seeing once prosperous business owners now begging for work had a profound effect on how Miller saw the world and the plays he wrote. After high school, Miller attended the University of Michigan and began writing plays. His first Broadway play was The Man Who Had All the Luck, which opened in 1944 but received bad reviews and closed after just four performances. His next play All My Sons, received the Drama Critics' Circle Award. Death of a Salesman was written in 1949 and won the Pulitzer Prize. The Crucible was written in 1953 which told the story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692. After spending three days in a Salem library reviewing the Salem trials court transcripts, Miller realized the witch trials were conducted in the same manner as McCarthy conducted his communist hunt. "I longed to respond to this climate of fear." "The Crucible," he said, was his response. (Crimson) Having seeing such atrocities up close, Miller could no longer remain …show more content…
McCarthy was convinced, or pretended to be convinced that there were communists in Hollywood, as such the House Un-American Activities Committee investigated the Screen Actors Guild and developed a Hollywood Blacklist. McCarthy and his followers went after any and everybody they wanted to accuse of being a communist. When in reality he was only interested in furthering his own political career regardless of the cost to others. Effective propaganda, convincing speeches, and influence from the Cold War made McCarthy famous. He was on a witch-hunt, looking for alleged communists despite the fact that they if they did exist they could not be found where he was looking.
Just like was true with those who lead the Salem Witch Trials, McCarthy needed to be important and to maintain reverence of Americans. This lead to leaders of the Un-American Activities group proceeded without any evidence or regard for those who they accused just as was done during the Salem Witch Trials.
5. Writing The