The Puritans came to America because they were kicked out of Europe for being crazy with their religion. John Winthrop, a Puritan coming from Europe to America, gave his sermon City Upon a Hill to a group of other Puritans as they were getting off the boat onto America. He discusses what they have to do now that they're living in America.
John Winthrop tells them that they "shall be as a City upon a Hill" because now, all eyes are placed on them; they will be watched by everyone. God is watching them to make sure that the Puritans stay faithful and the rest of the world will watch them because they're going into new territory. If the Puritans become unfaithful, God will forsaken them and the people in the rest of the world will put curses rather than prayers onto them.
John Winthrop's use of syntax is very interesting. His sermon City Upon a Hill is all one sentence. He does this so that he can get what he wants to say out first, before the Puritans can even respond. Had this speech be a couple sentences, his audience would have time to stop and digest the things he is saying. Winthrop also appeals to their fear, the Puritans followed their religion strictly and were scared of committing a sin, they live their life constantly thanking God for not dropping them into Hell for each step they take. If Winthrop wants those religious people to stay faithful, he's going to scare them into it.
The things you say and the way you say them illicit different responses from people. John Winthrop uses fear back then to get his Puritan followers to stay true to their religion. In today's society, Donald Trump uses fear to get himself into the presidency. Another example of this is how John Winthrop told his sermon all in one sentence, to make sure he can say what he wants to say, and have his followers respond while Barack Obama tells his speech in parts, so his listeners can understand what he is saying.
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