Background+on+Play-Use+notes+on+Crucible+background

McCarthyism - In the 1940s-50s, Americans were becoming very afraid of the communism that was growing in Europe and Asia. - Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed there was 200 communists that were active members of the US government. - Eventually proved to be not true, this caused panic throughout America. - People were accusing other people of being communists or communists sympathizers especially people involved with media such as writers and entertainers. - Some people had their passports taken away, some were even jailed. - If you were part of the trials your name name was tarnished for the rest of your life. - Some famous people considered to be communist sympathizer were. - More than 300 artists were blacklisted, which ended their careers. - Not a lot of people had the willpower to stand up against McCarthy and the anti-communists. - This time period was one of the darkest periods in American history.
 * Dashiell Hammett
 * Waldo Salt
 * Lillian Hellman
 * Lena Horne
 * Paul Robeson
 * Aaron Copeland
 * Charlie Chaplin

Arthur Miller - Arthur Miller was a playwright that became famous after the end of World War I. - His influences came from the Great Depression. - He wrote his views on which direction America was going in. - "The Crucible" was Miller's third major play. - "The Crucible" tells about Miller's concern about the working and middle class. - Miller has created characters that have spoken volumes for the American landscape.