Step 1: Read John Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity.” Puritan leader John Winthrop’s description of American as a “ A City Upon a Hill A City Upon a Hill – Alternative Formats
” contributed to the idea of American exceptionalism. The phrase has been recycled by several politicians, most notably John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.
Step 2: Click on the two blue links to listen to the speeches from Former President John F. Kennedy and Former President Ronald Reagan.
**Pay careful attention to how they make use of the “city upon a hill” phrase.
Step 3: Write a 150-250-word paragraph discussing how each speaker they interpreted the phrase “city upon a hill?” Are their interpretations similar to or different from Winthrop’s interpretation? Also, consider when the phrase was used, Kennedy used the phrase when entering office, and Reagan used the phrase as a farewell when leaving office. Is there a significant to this strategy?