1. Abigail Williams' Accusations: Abigail accuses innocent women, including Tituba, of practicing witchcraft, setting in motion the play's central conflict and sparking rumors of witchcraft in Salem.
2. Witchcraft Trials Begin: The town's authority figures establish a court to investigate the witchcraft accusations, further igniting the hysteria.
3. Parris and Abigail Plot: To protect themselves, Abigail and Parris manipulate the court proceedings to eliminate their enemies and those who threaten their personal interests.
4. Hysteria Spreads: The accusations quickly spread, infecting the entire town with paranoia and fear, as more innocent people are accused and arrested.
5. John Proctor's Involvement: John Proctor, initially reluctant, becomes involved in the trials when his wife, Elizabeth, is accused. He tries to expose Abigail's deception and her affair with him.
6. Character Conflicts Emerge: Tensions rise as long-standing disputes and rivalries between the town's residents come to the forefront during the trials.
7. Abigail's Power: Abigail asserts her influence over the proceedings and uses the accused witches' confessions to bolster her own position, further complicating the situation.
8. Giles Corey's Death: Giles Corey, a farmer and a vocal opponent of the trials, is pressed to death for refusing to confess. His defiance serves as a turning point in the play.
9. Mounting Doubts: As the trials progress, doubts begin to arise among some members of the community, including Reverend Hale, who questions the validity of the accusations and the credibility of the witnesses.
10. Mary Warren's Conflicting Testimonies: Mary Warren, Abigail's former friend and now an unwilling participant in the accusations, becomes torn between loyalty and conscience as she provides contradictory testimonies.
Overall, the rising action in "The Crucible" builds upon itself, weaving together individual conflicts, betrayals, and the growing hysteria of the witch hunt, which ultimately leads to a tragic climax and the play's resolution.