John Winthrop's Influence On American Society
Aidana Jenishbek kyzy
Puritan political thought and the thought of revolutionary generation of Americans.
Today, The United States of America represents true democracy and a sample of strong and free country, which is fully able to ensure human equal rights to its citizens. However, the history of American democracy and liberty has a long and bloody path. The early colonies of Puritans played a significant role in the establishment of American democratic regime. Next, but not less important contributions made the revolutionary generation of Americans in gaining liberty and equal rights. Two generations of two different periods had one common idea - building a faithful community, which will agree to follow set of rules and recognize the authority …show more content…
John Winthrop, the colony's governor says that the world is watching them like “a city upon a hill” and if they do not succeed, people will think of them and, more importantly, God in vain... He ends with a warning of what would happen if they stray from their original goals. (Model of Christian Charity, 10)
John Winthrop has also distinguished between "natural liberty" which suggested, "a liberty to evil" and "moral liberty ... a liberty to do only what is good."(Speech on Liberty, 1-2)
According to these definitions, natural liberty would mean corrupted nature of humans and the moral or civil liberty was considered as a proper liberty, which gives way to the needs of the community. In his view, the unrestrained individual enjoying natural rights would lead to the anarchy, which is the opposition to liberty.
According to Alexander Hamilton the law of nature is the law, "which, being coeval with mankind, and dictated by God himself, is, of course, superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over the entire globe, in all countries, and at all times. No human laws are of any validity, if contrary to this; and such of them as are valid, derive all their authority, mediately, or immediately, from this original." (The Farmer Refuted, …show more content…
The former is inherently aggressive, constantly attempting to escape its constitutional bounds. Society should guard their liberty jealously.
Thomas Jefferson argued in his opening two paragraphs that a people had the right to overthrow their government when it abused their fundamental natural rights over a long period. (Declaration, 1). “America was conquered, and her settlements made, and firmly established, at the expense of individuals, and not of the British public. Their own blood was split in acquiring lands for their settlement.” (Rights of British America, 1)
The revolutionary generation started to think about the entire country, national people. They counted all colonies as one community. They were against taxes imposed by British parliament and claimed that they are not going to recognize Parliament’s authority. Parliament can regulate trade, but not internal issues. According to them, it was a natural right to manage own trade. (Rights of British America, 2) This generation shared common ethnic, ideological, racial identities and believed in democracy and the natural
Puritan political thought and the thought of revolutionary generation of Americans.
Today, The United States of America represents true democracy and a sample of strong and free country, which is fully able to ensure human equal rights to its citizens. However, the history of American democracy and liberty has a long and bloody path. The early colonies of Puritans played a significant role in the establishment of American democratic regime. Next, but not less important contributions made the revolutionary generation of Americans in gaining liberty and equal rights. Two generations of two different periods had one common idea - building a faithful community, which will agree to follow set of rules and recognize the authority …show more content…
John Winthrop, the colony's governor says that the world is watching them like “a city upon a hill” and if they do not succeed, people will think of them and, more importantly, God in vain... He ends with a warning of what would happen if they stray from their original goals. (Model of Christian Charity, 10)
John Winthrop has also distinguished between "natural liberty" which suggested, "a liberty to evil" and "moral liberty ... a liberty to do only what is good."(Speech on Liberty, 1-2)
According to these definitions, natural liberty would mean corrupted nature of humans and the moral or civil liberty was considered as a proper liberty, which gives way to the needs of the community. In his view, the unrestrained individual enjoying natural rights would lead to the anarchy, which is the opposition to liberty.
According to Alexander Hamilton the law of nature is the law, "which, being coeval with mankind, and dictated by God himself, is, of course, superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over the entire globe, in all countries, and at all times. No human laws are of any validity, if contrary to this; and such of them as are valid, derive all their authority, mediately, or immediately, from this original." (The Farmer Refuted, …show more content…
The former is inherently aggressive, constantly attempting to escape its constitutional bounds. Society should guard their liberty jealously.
Thomas Jefferson argued in his opening two paragraphs that a people had the right to overthrow their government when it abused their fundamental natural rights over a long period. (Declaration, 1). “America was conquered, and her settlements made, and firmly established, at the expense of individuals, and not of the British public. Their own blood was split in acquiring lands for their settlement.” (Rights of British America, 1)
The revolutionary generation started to think about the entire country, national people. They counted all colonies as one community. They were against taxes imposed by British parliament and claimed that they are not going to recognize Parliament’s authority. Parliament can regulate trade, but not internal issues. According to them, it was a natural right to manage own trade. (Rights of British America, 2) This generation shared common ethnic, ideological, racial identities and believed in democracy and the natural