The Image of America: Winthrop v.
DeTocqueville v. DeTocqueville
ANTHONY J. FITZPATRICK
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR HISTORY
EDUCATION
Enduring Visions of America
 Today we are going to examine the oft-quoted John
Winthrop and Alexis De Tocqueville(with some
special guests.

We will also utilize their writings to discuss relevance to today
AND practice some teaching strategies that we’ve been
exposed to throughout the course of the year.
John Winthrop
 Led Puritans to the
Massachusetts Bay
Colony in 1630.
 What are your notions of
the Puritans?

Jot down your thoughts
How do your thoughts mesh with this quote?
 For we must consider
that we shall be as 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 by-word through the
world.
 How might your
impression of the
Puritans affect your
notion of what John
Winthrop is proposing
here?
 How has the
interpretation of this
quote changed over time
(or stayed the same)?
But he wasn’t the first . . .
 Matthew 5:14
 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill
cannot be hid. Neither do [men] light a lamp, and
put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it
shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so let
your light shine before men; that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father who is in
heaven.
And not the last . . .
 President-Elect John F. Kennedy January 9, 1961:
 ...I have been guided by the standard John Winthrop set before his
shipmates on the flagship Arbella three hundred and thirty-one years ago,
as they, too, faced the task of building a new government on a perilous
frontier. "We must always consider", he said, "that we shall be as a city
upon a hill—the eyes of all people are upon us". Today the eyes of all people
are truly upon us—and our governments, in every branch, at every level,
national, state and local, must be as a city upon a hill — constructed and
inhabited by men aware of their great trust and their great responsibilities.
For we are setting out upon a voyage in 1961 no less hazardous than that
undertaken by the Arbella in 1630. We are committing ourselves to tasks of
statecraft no less awesome than that of governing the Massachusetts Bay
Colony, beset as it was then by terror without and disorder within. History
will not judge our endeavors—and a government cannot be selected—
merely on the basis of color or creed or even party affiliation. Neither will
competence and loyalty and stature, while essential to the utmost, suffice in
times such as these. For of those to whom much is given, much is
required...
And another:
 President Ronald Reagan January 11, 1989:
 ...I've spoken of the shining city all my political life,
but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I
saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud
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, and if
there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and
the doors were open to anyone with the will and the
heart to get here. That's how I saw it and see it still....
The Contemporary Debate
 Be an example – People
will look to us for model
behavior and strive to be
like us based on virtue.

What is our impression of
this argument?
 Spread our message –
Being an example isn’t
enough. To know the
right way and not share it
is not fulfilling the
responsibility.

What is our impression of
this argument?
Alexis De Tocqueville
 French politician (and
early “social scientist”).
 Came to America to
study the state of social
equality in an expanding
America

(And to look at our prison
system and practices)
From Democracy in America:
 SO – I have supplied some of the more iconic quotes
from this rather lengthy text.
 Let’s take 10-15 minutes to examine the quotes (or
fire up those laptops and find one that you love!)



What does the quote mean?
If the quote “speaks to you” – is there a historical event that
you are linking it to?
Is there a teaching strategy that we can link this to?
Now for the REALLY good stuff
 While De Tocqueville is most known for Democracy
in America, His experience with French colonization
in Algeria produced (in my opinion) wonderful
commentary on Middle Easter Affairs.
 KEEP IN MIND – these letters and essays were
written before 1850!
What is the effect on your image of America?
City on a Hill
Democracy in
America
Letters/
Essays on
Algeria
Affirm
Affirm
Affirm
Challenge
Challenge
Challenge
Change
Change
Change
If we have time . . .
 Let’s try our hand at creating a White Out!
 Use the quote
 What is the main idea
 Search for 2-3 others that spoke about that main idea
 Use images if you’d like!!
 OR review creating a mailing address with some of
these excerpts.


Number, Main Point, Street Designation, City, State, Zip Code
If you decide to use the letter writing extension who would the
letter be from?
afitzpatrick@aihe.info