“WEE SHALL BE AS A CITTY UPON A HILL”: JOHN WINTHROP'S NON-AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM

The belief that the United States is uniquely chosen by God to be a beacon of freedom for the whole world forms the core of American exceptionalism. Persistent recent references to John Winthrop's 1630 address in which he quoted the biblical metaphor of a “city upon a hill” suggest a line of continuous development from Winthrop's 17th-century aspirations for Massachusetts to present-day ideals for the United States. But Winthrop's address had very little to do with any presumed destiny of America to promote an American ideal of liberty throughout the world. Those who employ Winthrop's language in modern politics often distort historical fact and unwittingly undermine the American ideals they claim to support.