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Background of The Crucible

Background of The Crucible. Puritanism Salem Witch Trials McCarthyism. Defining Puritans. The term “Puritan” began as an insult from traditional Anglicans “separating” Puritans believed the Church of England was corrupt & true Christians must separate themselves from it

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Background of The Crucible

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  1. Background of The Crucible Puritanism Salem Witch Trials McCarthyism

  2. Defining Puritans • The term “Puritan” began as an insult from traditional Anglicans • “separating” Puritans believed the Church of England was corrupt & true Christians must separate themselves from it • “non-separating” believed in reform, but not separation (most Massachusetts colonists)

  3. Puritan Beliefs • Predestination • God chose who would receive salvation • Nothing you could do – not belief & not works • Vs. Belief • Gift of God’s grace without works through belief in Christ • Vs. Works based election • You achieve salvation based on good works

  4. So, why focus on behavior? • If they believed God had already chosen the elect, why be so devout? • They wanted to honor God through their behavior • They believed in sanctification (holy behavior that supposedly resulted when an individual had been saved) • It also became a pride issue – like the Pharisees in the Bible – just for others to see

  5. Puritan Beliefs • Against law to not attend church • Men & Women on opposite sides • All sins should be punished (sleeping in church, stealing food, etc.) • Misfortune meant God was punishing and would not help b/c it was God’s will • Fear of witchcraft and magic was common in Europe for centuries

  6. Puritan Children • Same rules as adults • Chores, repress differences, repress emotions • Disobedience strictly punished • Rarely played – toys & games scarce b/t Puritans saw as sinful distractions • Boys could be apprentices & work outside home • Girls tended to home – sew, wash, clean

  7. Puritan Children • Most children could read, but most homes had only the Bible and other religious books that described witchcraft in detail • Books for children included warnings against bad behavior and described punishments for sinful acts

  8. Economic & Social Divisions

  9. Economic & Social Divisions • Salem Town vs. Salem Village • Salem Town • Wealthy merchants • Prosperous port town • Salem Village • Poor farmers • Made living off of cultivating crops

  10. Economic & Social Divisions • Salem Village tried to gain independence from Salem Town • Town depended on farmers in Village for food & taxes • Farmers in Village believed prosperity of the town threatened Puritan values • Village selected Rev. Parris – denounced worldly ways of economic prosperity • Parris supported witch trials

  11. Causes for Hysteria Outbreak • Belief in tie between witchcraft & natural events that matched “events” of the devil • Smallpox, strife b/t Salem Town & Salem Village, fighting with Indians • “symptoms” evident (most can be feigned) • Tituba’s influence – her Barbados spells & songs • Boredom of the girls • Feuds between people • Within congregation over beliefs • Property disputes • Village vs. Town

  12. McCarthyism • During the 1940s & 1950s, Americans were concerned about communism spreading in Europe & China. • While Arthur Miller was writing The Crucible, Senator Joseph McCarthy was trying to expose Americans suspected of being communists—most of whom had no direct connection to the communist Party. • Senator Joseph McCarthy made a public accusation there were more than 200 card-carrying communists in the US government.

  13. McCarthyism • Paranoid hunt for infiltrators • Difficult on writers & entertainers – many had to stop working • Some passports taken away • Some jailed for refusing to give names • Hundreds imprisoned, 10,000-12,000 lost their jobs

  14. Bibliography Campbell, Donna M. "Puritanism in New England." Literary Movements. July 14, 2008. September 26, 2008. <http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/purdef.htm>. Linder, Douglass. “Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692.” Famous American Trials. March 2007. September 26, 2007. <http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm>. “Salem Witch Trials: The World Behind the Hysteria.” Discovery Education. 2008. September 26, 2008. <http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/>.

  15. You have to write something! • Write the following sentence stems and fill in the answers according to you— • The most significant thing I learned by this power point was . • One thing I would like to know more about is . • A synonym & an antonym for the word paranoia is .

  16. NOW WHAT? • Turn in your questions and answers to the basket….if you want a grade.

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