Topic One:  Creative Liberty vs. Truth.  Arthur Miller’s play uses creative liberty to change some of the truths about the Salem Witch Trials while still maintaining the essence of the hysteria caused in this time period.  Research history and find at least five significant differences between the details of the play and the facts of history. Compare character differences among the people involved, reasons for the accusations, proof of witchcraft, those who were killed, the end of the trials, the results of the Trials’ termination.

Topic Two: Did the Mathers Matter?  What influence did Cotton Mather have on Puritan society?  On the witch trials?  Who is Increase Mather?  What role did he play in history?  What literature did they both write and to what degree did it influence the time period? 

Topic Three:  Motivations of Miller.  Who is Arthur Miller? Why did Arthur Miller write a play about the events of 1692 if he were not alive until centuries later?  When did he live?  Was he considered a quality writer?  Did he write other plays/literature?  Did the literature have a common theme?  Does he comment on his intention in writing The Crucible?
 

Topic Four:  Red Scare vs. Witch Scare.  What was the Red Scare?  When? What is the HUAC (House Un-American Committee), when did it operate, and what was its purpose? Who is Senator Joseph McCarthy and what is his connection to the HUAC? Who did the HUAC investigate and what was the impact of these investigations on these people? What does it mean to be "blacklisted"? What caused the HUAC to be dissolved?

Topic Five: The State of Salem.  What state was Salem in prior to the witch trials? What aspects of Salem caused the hysteria that took place?  What is the state of Salem today?