City On A Hill
City on a Hill Speeches
John Winthrop in particular has been quoted as a source of inspiration by U.S. presidents from John F. Kennedy and
Ronald Reagan. John Winthrop crossed the ocean from England to New England aboard the Arabella in early 1630s. His passengers were primarily Puritans who had fled England in search of religious freedom. John Winthrop's directive provided inspiration and caution to the passengers, and his determination was seen through John F. Kennedy’s and Ronald Reagan’s eyes.
The “City on a Hill” speech was the motivational piece for John Winthrop, and the incentive for John F. Kennedy and Ronald
Reagan.
The “City upon a Hill” section of the sermon called “A Model of Christian Charity” was written in 1630s by the
Puritan leader, John Winthrop, while the first group of Puritan emigrants was still onboard their ship. The “City upon a Hill” passage has come to represent irritating Puritan pridefulness; they thought they were perfect, a city on a hill that everyone else would admire and want to imitate. In reality, the passage is far from a backpatting exercise. Winthrop knew that the events in
New England would be watched not just by England, but by the world. It was in this context that Winthrop noted: “We must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.” His language made it clear that we were not destined to be a shining example, only that we were destined to be an example, shining or not. In theory, his speech was written to persuade and manipulate the minds of others to be apart of his religion.
The same phrase was invoked by John F. Kennedy in 1961, slightly more than a week before he was initiated as president. He spoke at a podium at the Massachusetts State House before an audience of legislators, state officials and 700 spectators. “Today the eyes of all people are truly upon us — and our governments, in every branch, at every level, national, state and local, must be as a
John Winthrop in particular has been quoted as a source of inspiration by U.S. presidents from John F. Kennedy and
Ronald Reagan. John Winthrop crossed the ocean from England to New England aboard the Arabella in early 1630s. His passengers were primarily Puritans who had fled England in search of religious freedom. John Winthrop's directive provided inspiration and caution to the passengers, and his determination was seen through John F. Kennedy’s and Ronald Reagan’s eyes.
The “City on a Hill” speech was the motivational piece for John Winthrop, and the incentive for John F. Kennedy and Ronald
Reagan.
The “City upon a Hill” section of the sermon called “A Model of Christian Charity” was written in 1630s by the
Puritan leader, John Winthrop, while the first group of Puritan emigrants was still onboard their ship. The “City upon a Hill” passage has come to represent irritating Puritan pridefulness; they thought they were perfect, a city on a hill that everyone else would admire and want to imitate. In reality, the passage is far from a backpatting exercise. Winthrop knew that the events in
New England would be watched not just by England, but by the world. It was in this context that Winthrop noted: “We must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.” His language made it clear that we were not destined to be a shining example, only that we were destined to be an example, shining or not. In theory, his speech was written to persuade and manipulate the minds of others to be apart of his religion.
The same phrase was invoked by John F. Kennedy in 1961, slightly more than a week before he was initiated as president. He spoke at a podium at the Massachusetts State House before an audience of legislators, state officials and 700 spectators. “Today the eyes of all people are truly upon us — and our governments, in every branch, at every level, national, state and local, must be as a