Harper's Academy U.S. History and American Literature

Here's a re-cap of today's focus: Puritans Women were not so bad off compared to England and other areas of the world. Women made up nearly 75% of the church, supported one another because of their close proximity, and carried a lot of weight with their opinions. The downside of this was that because of their “power of influence” they were often charged with slander. A woman’s opinion could ruin a minister’s career. Also, most women could read and write. This literacy rate was unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Why? Because reading the Bible was important to them. Women were also more cherished and respected because of the Puritan faith than in other religious communities. While they could not hold office, they were able to divorce (although infrequently), were protected from abuse and neglect, and men were held accountable for abandonment or adultery. Anne Bradstreet- Puritan poet. As you read the prologue, consider what she is saying about the status of Puri...

For this next week, you are going to be reading the first half of a play called  The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Here is a link to the audible version through Youtube, if you are an auditory learner or just want some help following along as you read. Now, The Crucible takes quite a bit of testimony from our Salem Witch Trials, which we will examine in class next week, but it was written in a much more modern era. As you listen to this or read it, think about the greater symbolism this story and historical event can have on other events in history. Do we have "witch hunts" in contemporary society? Do these "witch hunts" measure up to the catastrophe of the Salem witch hunts? Check the time frame of this play's publication and Miller's religious background and political views. What might he be pointing at as a witch hunt in his era? One cool fact about Miller if you haven't found it during your own research: He was Marilyn Monroe's third husba...