Knowledge Builders

how would you explain john winthrops idea of the american dream

by Nelson Kassulke Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
image

Winthrop thought that people were not keeping their promise they had made to God when they came to America. He thought they were ‘dissembling’ themselves from God and warned people not to do that. Winthrop’s idea of the American Dream is to be with God, care for others and work hard so everyone can prosper.

He changed the goal of the colony from a commercial venture to a Puritan society. In a sermon titled A Model of Christian Charity , Winthrop set forth the idea that America was special (an idea that morphed into what is called "American Exceptionalism") because of its unique relationship to God and other nations.

Full Answer

What was John Winthrop’s idea of America?

In a sermon titled A Model of Christian Charity , Winthrop set forth the idea that America was special (an idea that morphed into what is called “American Exceptionalism”) because of its unique relationship to God and other nations. What is John Winthrop’s idea of the American Dream?

What was John Winthrop's dream of the colonies?

Although Winthrop never used the word "dream," he eloquently detailed his vision of a society in which everyone would have a chance to prosper, as long as they all worked together and followed Biblical teachings [source: Winthrop ]. Gradually, that dream of opportunity evolved in colonists' minds into a God-given right.

Where did the American dream come from?

But the concept of the American dream, as Adams defined it, actually existed long before him. In 1630, John Winthrop gave his "city upon a hill" sermon to his fellow Puritan colonists as they sailed to Massachusetts in 1630.

What did John Winthrop mean by “city upon a hill”?

In 1630, John Winthrop gave his “city upon a hill” speech to fellow Puritan colonists, and although he never used the word “dream”, he eloquently detailed his vision of a society in which everyone would have a chance to prosper, as long as they all worked together and followed Biblical teachings.

image

What is the idea of the American Dream in diamonds song?

The overall message of this song focuses on the chase that people, in particular immigrants, begin to try to live the dream. In the song, lyrics such as "Home/To a new and a shiny place/Make our bed and we'll say our grace" This lyric shows the typical and expected actions that occur when living the American Dream.

What is John Winthrop's point of view?

He was a passionately religious Puritan, and he truly believed that the Puritans were meant to make a religious utopia, a 'City Upon a Hill', in New England in order to prove their worth to the rest of the world.

What is the message of John Winthrop city upon a hill?

In quoting Matthew's Gospel (5:14) in which Jesus warns, "a city on a hill cannot be hid," Winthrop warned his fellow Puritans that their new community would be "as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us", meaning, if the Puritans failed to uphold their covenant with God, then their sins and errors ...

What is winthrops vision for his new colony?

His aim was to prepare them for the life they would soon share in their outpost in the wilderness, which would demand of them mutually supportive labor. Winthrop's careful and logical discourse can be read as an exposition of Biblical texts on civic virtue.

What are the 3 main ideas discussed in Winthrop's speech?

Following a brief background discussion of John Winthrop, I will outline three paradoxes illustrated by the sermon to sustain Puritan public life: (1) a body politic must maintain difference among its members to ensure community, (2) worldly activities such as the acquisition of money can serve spiritual ends, and (3) ...

What did John Winthrop do in the Americas quizlet?

As governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, Winthrop (1588-1649) was instrumental in forming the colony's government and shaping its legislative policy. He envisioned the colony, centered in present-day Boston, as a "city upon a hill" from which Puritans would spread religious righteousness throughout the world.

What did John Winthrop mean by city on a hill quizlet?

What did Winthrop mean by calling the new settlement a "city upon a hill"? The phrase "city on a hill" refers to a community that others will look up to. John Winthrop used this phrase to describe the Massachusetts Bay colony, which he believed would become a shining example of Puritan perfection.

What does Winthrop say will happen if they fail to please God?

Winthrop states that the Puritans must keep their covenant with God because it is morally right, because they are going to be an example for the rest of the world to follow, and because failing to keep their covenant would lead to the withdrawal of God's protection and their own destruction.

Why is city upon a hill important?

“A Model of Christian Charity” is most famous for its assertion that the new colony would be “a city upon a hill,” a phrase which has been seized upon by politicians promoting a more secularized representation of America as a beacon of liberty and self-government for the world.

What did John Winthrop do to benefit the colonies?

Winthrop led the first large wave of colonists from England in 1630 and served as governor for 12 of the colony's first 20 years. His writings and vision of the colony as a Puritan "city upon a hill" dominated New England colonial development, influencing the governments and religions of neighboring colonies.

Who came to the New World to build a perfect city on a hill?

Winthrop referred to their new place in the New World as a “city on a hill” that would be watched by the world in order to inspire the Puritans.

Why did the Puritans come to America?

They came to explore, to make money, to spread and practice their religion freely, and to live on land of their own. The Pilgrims and Puritans came to America to practice religious freedom. In the 1500s England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and created a new church called the Church of England.

What is natural liberty according to Winthrop?

Natural liberty” defines a liberty where people want to have power to themselves and do as they please, and sequentially, this will lead them to anarchy. This liberty led to sinful tendencies, and Winthrop said, “this liberty makes men grow more evil and in time to be worse than brute beasts.”

What would happen to Winthrop's people if they did not follow through with their mission?

What would happen to Winthrop's people if they did not follow through with their mission? He believed they would lose support of God, and be made and example of.

Why was John Winthrop drawn to the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

Puritans like Winthrop were persecuted. As he worried about his future, Winthrop became intrigued by a new venture, the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a commercial enterprise that offered the chance for religious freedom in the New World.

Who is John Winthrop Apush?

Winthrop is best known as the founder of Massachusetts Bay Colony and served as its governor for almost 30 years, from 1620 until 1649. He delivered the famous "City upon a Hill" speech.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

John Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, is credited with defining what has become known as the "American dream" -- unadulterated.

John Winthrop Defines the "American Dream"

John Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, is credited with defining what has become known as the "American dream" -- unadulterated.

What was Winthrop's sermon about the Massachusetts colonists?

As Winthrop sailed west on the Arbella in the spring of 1630, he composed a lay sermon, “ A Modell of Christian Charity,” in which he pictured the Massachusetts colonists in covenant with God and with each other, divinely ordained to build “a Citty upon a Hill” in New England , with “the eyes of all people” on them:

What did Winthrop do?

Like many members of his class, Winthrop studied law, served as justice of the peace, and obtained a government office; from 1627 to 1629 he was an attorney at the Court of Wards and Liveries. For more than 20 years Winthrop was primarily a country squire at Groton, with no discernible interest in overseas colonization.

What was Winthrop's economic situation in the 1620s?

During the late 1620s, Winthrop felt increasingly trapped by the economic slump that reduced his landed income and by Charles I ’s belligerent anti-Puritan policy, which cost him his court post in 1629. When, in 1629, the Massachusetts Bay Company obtained a royal charter to plant a colony in New England, Winthrop joined the company, pledging to sell his English estate and take his family to Massachusetts if the company government and charter were also transferred to America. The other members agreed to these terms and elected him governor (October 20).

How many acres did Winthrop's father have?

Background and early life. Winthrop’s father was a newly risen country gentleman whose 500-acre (200-hectare) estate, Groton Manor, had been bought from Henry VIII at the time of the Reformation.

What colony did most people know about?

Most people know all about the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, and the first Thanksgiving. But do you know anything else about the Massachusetts Bay Colony? Test your knowledge of New England’s first colony with this quiz.

Where did Winthrop live?

For the remaining 19 years of his life, Winthrop lived in the New England wilderness, a father figure among the colonists. In the annual Massachusetts elections he was chosen governor 12 times between 1631 and 1648, and during the intervening years he sat on the court of assistants or colony council. His American career passed through three distinct phases. On first arrival, in the early 1630s, he did his most creative work, guiding the colonists as they laid out a network of tightly organized towns, each with its church of self-professed saints. Winthrop himself settled at Boston, which quickly became the capital and chief port of Massachusetts. His new farm on the Mystic River was much inferior to his former estate at Groton, but Winthrop never regretted the move, because he was free at last to build a godly commonwealth.

Was Winthrop a Puritan?

From his early teens Winthrop threw himself into scriptural study and prayers, and gradually he trained himself into a full-fledged Puritan, convinced that God had elected him to salvation—or, in Puritan terms, to “sainthood.”.

What were the values of early American writers?

The values that early American writers considered most important were piety, courage, and industry . They were highly honored by the large Puritan population, and these values helped them survive the beginning of the colonies. Overtime, however, different values were stressed more than others. For example, in “Of Plymouth Plantation,” written around 1620, Bradford chooses to write about the piety, courage, and industry of all the settlers in his settlement. In 1630, Winthrop gave his sermon “A Model of Christian Charity,” and in it he motivates his audience using piety and industry as reasons to succeed.

Why are the Puritans important?

The ideas constructed by the Puritans were not simply a principal starting point for American culture because they were the first in the country, but because they offered distinct ways of thinking that are still deep-seated in our culture today. Although many of the ideas of Puritans have evolved or vanished over time, it is important to give credit to the Puritan writers and thinkers such as John Winthrop and John Cotton who offered ideas that were new at the time and that stayed with the American consciousness—culturally, socially, and politically. “John Winthrop's legacy can be seen primarily in the fields of government, commerce, and religion. It was religion that would most impact John's life; his religion would ultimately impact the…show more content…

Is the American dream alive?

By researching many articles, among the dream and learning some real life experiences connected to the dream, we will find that the dream is alive and has an impact to the lives of others in many ways. The American Dream was introduced to the world in the 1930’s, however the concept of it existed many years ago. In 1630, John Winthrop gave his “city upon a hill” speech to fellow Puritan colonists, and although he never used the word “dream”, he eloquently detailed his vision of a society in which everyone would have a chance to prosper, as long as they all worked together and followed Biblical teachings. In the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Thomas Jefferson asserted that everyone in America at least, those who weren’t enslaved by the colonists

What did Adams dream of?

In his 1931 book "The Epic of America," Adams described "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" [source: Adams ]. But the concept of the American dream, as Adams defined it, actually existed long before him.

What is the euphemism for upward economic mobility?

By the early 20th century, it was a euphemism for upward economic mobility -- the prototypical American rags-to-riches dream. In Sherwood Anderson's 1916 novel "Windy McPherson's Son," for example, the author described his protagonist as "an American multi-millionaire, a man in the midst of his money-making, one who had realised ...

What is the American dream?

ports in search of better jobs and homes. By the early 20th century, it was a euphemism for upward economic mobility -- the prototypical American rags-to-riches dream. In Sherwood Anderson's 1916 novel "Windy McPherson's Son," for example, the author described his protagonist as "an American multi-millionaire, a man in the midst of his money-making, one who had realised the American Dream" [source: Anderson].

Did Winthrop dream?

Although Winthrop never used the word "dream," he eloquently detailed his vision of a society in which everyone would have a chance to prosper, as long as they all worked together and followed Biblical teachings [source: Winthrop ]. Gradually, that dream of opportunity evolved in colonists' minds into a God-given right.

Who was the first person to describe the American dream?

But the concept of the American dream, as Adams defined it, actually existed long before him. In 1630, John Winthrop gave his "city upon a hill" sermon to his fellow Puritan colonists as they sailed to Massachusetts in 1630. Although Winthrop never used the word "dream," he eloquently detailed his vision of a society in which everyone would have ...

Who said if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he?

American transcendentalist philosopher Henry David Thoreau, in his 1854 book "Walden," articulated it this way: "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours" [source: Thoreau ].

Who said everyone in America was entitled to life liberty and pursuit of happiness?

In the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Thomas Jefferson asserted that everyone in America -- at least, those who weren't enslaved by the colonists -- was entitled to "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" [source: Jefferson ]. Advertisement.

image

1.The American Dream By John Winthrop - 1168 Words

Url:https://www.bartleby.com/essay/The-American-Dream-By-John-Winthrop-P3HAZCEL29BQW

29 hours ago What is John Winthrop’s idea of the American Dream? Winthrop believed that it was God’s will for some to be poor and some rich, and that they would succeed if they trusted in their …

2.John Winthrop Defines the "American Dream" - Blogger

Url:https://bartleby2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/john-winthrop-defines-american-dream.html

11 hours ago Winthrop thought that people were not keeping their promise they had made to God when they came to America. He thought they were ‘dissembling’ themselves from God and warned people …

3.John Winthrop | Significance, Beliefs, City upon a Hill

Url:https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Winthrop-American-colonial-governor

14 hours ago How would you explain John Winthrop's idea of the American Dream? He states: "The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, …

4.Puritan Ideas And John Winthrop's Impact On American …

Url:https://www.ipl.org/essay/John-Winthrop-And-John-Winthrops-Influence-On-FJA3AP5KRU

28 hours ago He changed the goal of the colony from a commercial venture to a Puritan society. In a sermon titled A Model of Christian Charity , Winthrop set forth the idea that America was special (an …

5.How the American Dream Works - HowStuffWorks

Url:https://people.howstuffworks.com/american-dream1.htm

35 hours ago The American Dream has always been characterized by a thriving job market, opportunities for advancement, stability, etc. It is “the pursuit of individual achievement without consideration …

6.Utopia/Dystopia: The American Dream: 11-12th Grade Lesson …

Url:https://static.americanmensa.org/Assets/MFK2/assets/File/Teach/LessonPlans/Lesson_Utopia.pdf

3 hours ago  · John Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, is credited with defining what has become known as the "American dream" -- unadulterated. He set forth his …

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9