John Winthrop's Speech: The City Upon A Hill

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The City Upon a Hill theme has been used through American history mainly in speeches of high political figures. They used City Upon a Hill in their speeches to relate on how John Winthrop’s ideology of the government greatly reflects to what we have today. These figures happen to be Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and Sarah Palin.

To begin, Ronald Reagan was one of the political figures that referenced the City Upon a Hill theme in his speech. Reagan spoke about John Winthrop’s shining city upon a hill in his speech. John Winthrop was important to Reagan because he was one of the first freedom men that was searching for a home that would be free. Reagan imagined this city as “a tall city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity…”. Reagan thought of the city that way because it is the same way he viewed the current government he was in. That is one way how City Upon a Hill was used in American history. …show more content…
Kennedy was another political figure that referenced the City Upon a Hill theme in his speech. Kennedy focused on how John Winthrop said “that we shall be as a city upon a hill-the eyes of all people are upon us.” Kennedy referenced this because the current government is exactly like what Winthrop said. Every single branch in our government has eyes upon them for their “great trust and their great responsibilities.” Kennedy also relates to John Winthrop and the fellow pilgrims that he traveled withs’ courage, judgment, integrity, and dedication. This is what is expected of those in office and those who do not have those traits are not fit to be in the government. That is another way how City Upon a Hill theme was used in American
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