Process

  1. You will be assigned to a group of 4 students.
  2. You will then divide the group into two pairs.
  3. One pair will assume the role of an accused witch during the Salem Witchcraft hysteria, while the other pair will assume the role of an accused communist during the McCarthy Hearings on UnAmerican Activities.  The following chart offers suggestions for items to include in your day by day journal.  Click here for tips for successful Journal Writing

Journal Contents
Day 1 - Describe the character Name Physical Description of yourself and your family. Place of Birth/Residence Occupation
Day 2 - Setting Describe the town/city where you live.  What year is it? Who lives in your town or city? Describe your neighbors.
Day 3 - Character Development How do you earn a living? Describe your friends.  Who are they, what do they do, how are they connected to your life? What are your interests?  Books you have read, movies your have seen, recreational activities, etc. You have just learned you are being brought to trial.  What is your reaction.  .
Day 4 - Religious Beliefs What are your religious beliefs?  Are they different from others in your community?  Does your religion play a part in your persecution? Tell us about someone you admire.  Why?
Day 5 - Politics Describe the city or town government.  Who are the political leaders of the country?  What the form of government ? Describe a political figure you admire.
Day 6 - Judicial Process Describe the format of the trial.  Who are the judges?  How were they chosen? What are the charges against you? Who are your supporters?  Do they have anything in common? What is the format for the trial?
Day 7 - The Trial What is your testimony going to be? Describe the testimony against you. What was the verdict of your trial? What is the sentence?
Your final thoughts.
  1. Each pair will research sites on the web and gather information that will help you to create a historically and politically accurate journal that covers a 7 day period of time from in the life of their person.
  2. The journals will then be shared as a PowerPoint presentation that makes comparisons between the two time periods.
  3. Each presentation should include 1 slide for each day.  You may want to include a graph or chart that makes some comparisons  For instructions on how to make a chart.
  4. One additional slide should be included that provides some closing thoughts on the common elements or differences of each of the trials.
  5. You will each individually write a newspaper article describing the trial and your fate.

Resources for Salem Witchcraft Trials
 

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/salem/index.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/witches1.html
http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft

Resources for McCarthyism

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/home.html
http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/dl/McCarthy/McCarthydocuments.html
hhttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/arthur-miller/mccarthyism/484/ttp://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAred.htm