Crucible Poster Activity: Witch Hunts, Scapegoats,
Propaganda, and Hysteria Throughout History
Dr. Gingrich
AP Language and Composition, Cambridge High School
100 Points Formative, Due Wednesday, September 6th ( end of period)
Propaganda, and Hysteria Throughout History
Dr. Gingrich
AP Language and Composition, Cambridge High School
100 Points Formative, Due Wednesday, September 6th ( end of period)
Introduction: Often during the course of world history people in power have scapegoated individuals and groups in order to exercise control over a society. Frequently these leaders have caused hysteria through the spreading of propaganda. We will focus on the issues of hysteria and scapegoating in this lesson and then focus and connect those to the uses of propaganda and logical fallacies.
Task: You will consider one of the historical periods from below. You should conduct a web search on this topic (use historically accurate, academic web pages) focusing on the historical context, the cause of the persecution, the persecutors and the persecuted, and the hysteria which ensued. Be sure to analyze the methods which the persecutors applied in their witch hunts.
1. Read the following Slate Article on Witches
2. Your group will be given a specific period to study.
Red Scare Sacco and Vanzetti (1920's and 1930's)
Spanish Inquisition (15th and 16th centuries)
Holocaust (Germany and Eastern Europe, 1930's and 1940's)
Aids Epidemic of the 1980's Homosexuals (United States)
Post 9/11 Scapegoating of Muslims (United States and Europe 2000's)
McCarthyism and Anti-Communist Movement (United States 1950's)
Mao and Chinese Revolution (China 1930's to 1960's)
Stalin and Pogroms (1920's to 1950's)
Japanese American During World War II (1940s)
Immigrants Early 20th America (11900's United States)
Propaganda Powerpoint/Logically Fallacies
Post notes for parts 3-6 to google classroom
3.Create a summary of the historical points related to the situation: time and location, persecutors and persecuted, reasons for the persecution, methods applied to the persecution, historical results of the persecution.
Write these key points on the poster. There should be at least 5 statements on the poster.
4. Analyze the following specific issues related to the time frame that you are discussing.
A. Examine the hysteria you find at that specific historical time. What caused the feelings of unease?
B. Why were particular groups scapegoated at the time? What caused large segments of the society to be willing to scapegoat these individuals?
C. How was propaganda a significant element that came into play at the time?
5. Visual elements. Place three pictures or draw images which illustrate the historical period you are considering.
6. Read the following quote and write a response of one page explaining how this connects to the play and historical examples which you have considered.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.