As Jordyn Flows

[Puritan colonist, John Winthrop founded the MA Bay Colony, which he believed was "a city upon a hill." In other words, this community was watched and admired by the rest of the world. As for my assignment, I was to find a crowning piece of evidence proving that America has in many ways adopted this mentality. President Kennedy's inaugural speech captures the belief that America is a city upon a hill].

C.O.A.H

On January 20, 1961 President John F. Kennedy addressed the United States in his renowned inaugural speech. JFK described the United States as a nation that embodies freedom, liberty, and justice. His thoughts about the past, present, and future of the United States described the The United States as a modern model for John Winthrop’s notion of a “City upon a Hill.” JFK commends the American citizens for using their liberty and advantages to achieve excellence. At the same time he challenges citizens to achieve even more for future generations. John Winthrop’s vision of a C.O.A.H is a society that represents freedom, unity, and peace. JFK’s inaugural speech suggests that the United States is living up to Winthrop’s vision of a C.O.A.H. 

Clearly, JFK believes the United States is a C.O.A.H due to the nation’s commitment on freedom. Therefore the United States has a responsibility to set an example for the world. It is the United State's duty to offer help to other countries in order to achieve what our nation has accomplished. A C.O.A.H that represents liberty, JFK firmly believes American citizens must use their liberties to not only benefit the country but the world as well. Regardless of the challenges that the nation faces, this C.O.A.H leads the fight for freedom. JFK will offer a helping hand to any nation, “whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burn, meet ant hardship, support any friends, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge and more.” Evidently, the President believes there should literally be liberty and justice for all, or democracy in contrast with communism.

Moreover, developing countries struggle with the most harmful epidemic: poverty. In contrast to the United States, citizens around the world are less fortunate. Therefore JFK believed the citizens standing on the hill should come down and work with other countries to abolish poverty. He pledges to help, “those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves…because it is right.” In addition, there are many other issues that the U.S. has yet to conquer in the world such as, “tyranny, disease, and war itself.” Though the United States is a C.O.A.H, JFK believes the world has to unite in order to truly see results. The United States is a strong force but if all nations work together, then defeating these issues is possible. 

During his Presidency JFK believed in peace as the key ingredient for any nation to succeed. He asks his fellow nations to start “anew.” Furthermore, he hopes that “both sides” will agree to negotiate, explore problems, find solutions, institute laws, and above all fight for freedom. In the 1960's JFK’s ethics made the United States a C.O.A.H. The nation’s passion for freedom, unity, and peace made the United States admired by all. 

JFK reflects on the American citizens as being the driving force behind the success in the United States. He states, “I do not believe that any of you would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it–and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.” From this passage, it is the faith and belief in the citizens that makes the United States C.O.A.H. Everyday American citizens express and fight for their beliefs, take action and exercise their freedom. This is how we have achieved success; by reaching for goals and striving for the inevitable. Americans hope to achieve more than previous generations and all hope to contribute to the American dream. The citizens of the United States are the essence of this C.O.A.H and therefore JFK asked his fellow Americans, “what can you do for your country?”