Uploaded August 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How did American Exceptionalism, the idea that the United States and its citizens are special and unique, come into being?
This week on the show, we'll take a look at the beginnings of American Exceptionalism by studying the "City Upon a Hill" speech given by Puritan leader John Winthrop in 1630. We'll look at the contents of the speech and what they meant to Puritans migrating from England, how Winthrop's words became a part of our national mindset, and how it can dangerous to maintain the idea that America is truly exceptional.
Read more about the "City Upon a Hill" speech:
thehistoricpresent.com/2010/06/28/the-city-upon-a-hill-and-puritan-hubris
americanyawp.com/reader/colliding-cultures/john-winthrop-dreams-of-a-city-on-a-hill-1630
washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/09/12/american-exceptionalism-explained/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c67587532cb5
politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/07/trump-american-exceptionalism-history-216253
US 101 on Facebook: facebook.com/usahistory101
US 101 on Twitter: twitter.com/usahistory101
US 101 on Instagram: instagram.com/usahistory101
US 101 on Snapchat: @usahistory101
How did American Exceptionalism, the idea that the United States and its citizens are special and unique, come into being?
This week on the show, we'll take a look at the beginnings of American Exceptionalism by studying the "City Upon a Hill" speech given by Puritan leader John Winthrop in 1630. We'll look at the contents of the speech and what they meant to Puritans migrating from England, how Winthrop's words became a part of our national mindset, and how it can dangerous to maintain the idea that America is truly exceptional.
Read more about the "City Upon a Hill" speech:
thehistoricpresent.com/2010/06/28/the-city-upon-a-hill-and-puritan-hubris
americanyawp.com/reader/colliding-cultures/john-winthrop-dreams-of-a-city-on-a-hill-1630
washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/09/12/american-exceptionalism-explained/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c67587532cb5
politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/07/trump-american-exceptionalism-history-216253
US 101 on Facebook: facebook.com/usahistory101
US 101 on Twitter: twitter.com/usahistory101
US 101 on Instagram: instagram.com/usahistory101
US 101 on Snapchat: @usahistory101
