The Crucible

The Crucible

The Author: Arthur Miller

The Historical BackgroundPuritanism

Salem Witch Trials

PuritanismRemember John Winthrops City on a Hilla religious community in which pure ideals were centralBelieved in a strong connection between church and state (theocracy)Believed in a Covenant with God and with each other to follow moral codes in pursuit of eternal lifeBelieved in Predestination (only the elect would be saved)Believed God and Satan were active presences in the natural word

Puritanism Believed Native Americans were heathens and the woods and forests full of demonsBelieved in mandatory attendance at churchBelieved that people were expected to work hard and repress emotions and opinionsThe church dictated that dark, somber dress was appropriateNever get caught sleeping in church or stealing food

What do these beliefs tell us?

Puritanism Read natural signs to see Gods will or Satans tricks (when a neighbors crop failed or a child became sick, saw it as Gods will and did not help)Believed Satan selected the weakestwomen, children and the insane to carry out his work.Believed those who followed Satan were considered witchesPunished witchcraft by death

What does this tell us?

Witch Trials in EuropeAs early as 1450, witch hunts all over EuropeMany thousands were hanged, drowned or burned at the stakeWomen were viewed as imperfect as they were formed from a mans rib whereas men were the privileged sex (Christ--a male)Popular view of women was source of witch hunt hysteriaseen as inherently evil and sexualthus targets for the devil

Salem Witch TrialsPossibly the single, most studied event in colonial American history Fear of magic and witchcraft was common in New England, as it had been in EuropeOver 100 alleged witches had been tried and hanged in New England during the 1600sIn early 1692, the witch hunt hysteria began in Salem

Salem Witch Trials From early spring to September 1692, over 150 witches were taken into custody

19 men and women refused to confess and were hanged on Gallows Hill

One man was pressed to death under stones

Four died in jail

Key Points (Write em down)Author: Arthur Miller

Puritans and the Salem Witch TrialsBelieved those who followed Satan were considered witchesPunished witchcraft by death

Over 100 alleged witches had been tried and hanged in New England during the 1600s

Key PointsFrom early spring to September 1692, over 150 witches were taken into custody

19 men and women refused to confess and were hanged on Gallows Hill

One man was pressed to death under stones

Four died in jail

The Crucible Wrap Up

Examining a Witch

The Arrest Warrant - Proctor

The Witch HouseThe Witch House, home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Witchcraft Trials of 1692.

Salem in the 1700s

Rev. Samuel Parris

The Grave Site for Salem

Real Gravestones

Giles Corey

Rebecca Nurse

Repentance of Judge Sewall

What do we learn?Weak vs. Strong

How did this happen?

How can we stop this from happening?

Whats my role in stopping these witch hunts?Darfur