John Winthrop
John Winthrop (12 January 1588 - 26 March 1649) was famous for the founding, and as a leader of, the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England. He was a strict Puritan and the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Winthrop and the Puritans believed that they would establish a pure church in New England that would offer a model for the churches in the 'mother-land' and reform the Anglican Church.
Early life
He was born in was born on 12 January 1588 to wealthy parents Adam and Anne Winthrop
in Edwardstone, Suffolk, England. John Winthrop had an excellent education, was tutored at home, later attended grammar school and was admitted to Trinity College in December 1602
in Edwardstone, Suffolk, England. John Winthrop had an excellent education, was tutored at home, later attended grammar school and was admitted to Trinity College in December 1602
where he studied Law. Significance - the importance of education and study
Important early connections
Whilst attending Trinity he met two other Puritans who would feature in the history of the colonization of America and New England. The first was John Cotton, the grandfather of Cotton Mather who played a major role in the Salem Witchcraft Trials and the other was John Wheelwright -see later. Winthrop was drawn to the importance of community and working with others but perhaps not tolerant of those whose opinions differed from his own.
Religion in the UK
Charles I became king in 1624 and the Puritans were under threat due to their religious beliefs. John Winthrop believed that safety lay in the New World. John Winthrop was one of 20,000 Puritans who journeyed to America between 1620 and 1640.He travelled on the ship called the Arbella on which he made his famous 'City upon a hill' sermon. Winthrop aspired to the notion of freedom especially religious freedom and was prepared to face the challenges of the New World to achieve it.
The 'City Upon a Hill' Sermon 1630
Whilst aboard the Arbella, the ship that took Winthrop from England to the New World, he made a sermon which included the following quote:
"For we must consider that we shall be a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us, so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world."
The Significance of the Sermon
'City upon a hill' is a biblical phrase in Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden". John Winthrop preached that the new community of Puritans in the New World would be a "city upon a hill", watched by the world, an example of what could be achieved by the Puritans who had a strong work ethic and were motivated by their religion and desire to create a government and society that was tied to the church.
John Winthrop believed that that once the world saw this great city it would follow example set by Puritans and create a Utopian society - the New England Way.John Winthrop's effort to create a Puritan "City on a Hill" is seen to have had a lasting effect on American values, with the phrase appearing in the speeches of Ronald Regan and Obama. Winthrop here appears to demonstrate the exceptionalism of the America- the place of someone special where dreams can be achieved. Especially by those who work hard and follow the rules of the church and State.
Whilst aboard the Arbella, the ship that took Winthrop from England to the New World, he made a sermon which included the following quote:
"For we must consider that we shall be a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us, so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world."
The Significance of the Sermon
'City upon a hill' is a biblical phrase in Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden". John Winthrop preached that the new community of Puritans in the New World would be a "city upon a hill", watched by the world, an example of what could be achieved by the Puritans who had a strong work ethic and were motivated by their religion and desire to create a government and society that was tied to the church.
John Winthrop believed that that once the world saw this great city it would follow example set by Puritans and create a Utopian society - the New England Way.John Winthrop's effort to create a Puritan "City on a Hill" is seen to have had a lasting effect on American values, with the phrase appearing in the speeches of Ronald Regan and Obama. Winthrop here appears to demonstrate the exceptionalism of the America- the place of someone special where dreams can be achieved. Especially by those who work hard and follow the rules of the church and State.
Political career
John Winthrop was instrumental in developing the Cambridge Agreement allowing the immigration of Puritans, who would control the government and the charter of the Massachusetts Bay company and its trading potential. He secretly planned to develop a religion based government. The Cambridge Agreement was signed 26 August 1629 and provided means for emigrating shareholders to buy out non-emigrating shareholders of the Massachusetts Bay Company.In 1636 he clashed with Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson and was forced to banish them from the colony. In March, 1637, John Wheelwright, the brother-in-law of Anne Hutchinson, was convicted of sedition and contempt because his religious views departed from orthodox Puritanism. Winthrop was clearly an ambitious personality with the need to ensure that his powers were not challenged. He showed considerable intolerance towards those with alternative views.
John Winthrop was instrumental in developing the Cambridge Agreement allowing the immigration of Puritans, who would control the government and the charter of the Massachusetts Bay company and its trading potential. He secretly planned to develop a religion based government. The Cambridge Agreement was signed 26 August 1629 and provided means for emigrating shareholders to buy out non-emigrating shareholders of the Massachusetts Bay Company.In 1636 he clashed with Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson and was forced to banish them from the colony. In March, 1637, John Wheelwright, the brother-in-law of Anne Hutchinson, was convicted of sedition and contempt because his religious views departed from orthodox Puritanism. Winthrop was clearly an ambitious personality with the need to ensure that his powers were not challenged. He showed considerable intolerance towards those with alternative views.
Sources
https://www.landofthebrave.info/john-winthrop.htm
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