Witham - A city upon a hill: how the sermon changed the course of history

1607

The Virginia Company founds Jamestown.

1619

First General Assembly in America at Jamestown and arrival of first African slaves.

163040

The Great Migration to Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Massachusetts Bay Colony governor John Winthrop in 1630 preaches A Model of Christian Charity, a blueprint for Puritan society and a lasting city upon a hill symbol in American rhetoric.

John Cotton preaches the first election-day sermon at the Boston meeting house in May 1634, a precedent for the nations inaugural speeches by presidents.

1636

Connecticut and Rhode Island founded.

Anne Hutchinsons preaching on radical grace in 1636 prompts Massachusetts to restrict Hutchinsonian immigration and deport her to Rhode Island.

164260

English Civil War, Puritan rule, and Restoration of the monarchy.

During New Englands 1662 drought, Michael Wigglesworths Gods Controversy with New England begins a jeremiad tradition in American oratory.

Leading Bostonian Increase Mather preaches The Day of Trouble Is Near in 1674, helping to interpret Americas first great devastation, King Philips War between settlers and Indians.

167576

King Philips War between Indians and New England settlers.

1692

Salem witch trials.

Cotton Mather preaches The Wonders of the Invisible World amid the 1692 Salem witch hysteria, a period that sobers America about unfounded witch hunts.

1732

Georgia established as thirteenth colony.

1740

Naturalized residents of one colony allowed citizenship in other twelve.

The Great Awakening divides American denominations, driven by such sermons as Presbyterian Gilbert Tennents Dangers of an Unconverted Ministry on March 8, 1740, in Maryland.

Jonathan Edwards revives a flagging Calvinism with his July 8, 1741, sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, at Enfield, Connecticut.

To combat religious emotionalism, Boston Congregationalist Charles Chauncy preaches a rational Enlightenment faith in his July 1742 sermon, Enthusiasm Described and Cautioned Against.

1747

Ohio Company organizes to settle western lands.

Bostons Jonathan Mayhew gives colonials an inkling of rebellion against British royalty in his February 1750 sermon, Unlimited Submission, later called a catechism of the Revolution.

175463

French and Indian Wars in North America.

1765

The Stamp Act tax by Parliament.

1775

Battles of Lexington and Concord.

From London, Methodism founder John Wesley sends his mid-1775 Calm Address to Our American Colonies, urging obedience to British taxation and rule.

1776

Declaration of Independence.

John Witherspoon, president of Princeton College, in May 1776 justifies war in his widely printed sermon Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men, and signs the Declaration of Independence.

1789

First U.S. Congress.

The Jewish voice in America becomes public on November 26, 1790, when Gershom Mendes Seixas preaches a Thanksgiving Sermon at Shearith Israel Congregation, New York City.

1796

Washingtons Farewell Address.

Yale College president Timothy Dwight preaches against European atheism and conspiracy in his July 4, 1798, sermon, The Duty of Americans, which espouses keeping the Sabbath.

1800

Jefferson elected president to new Washington, D.C., capital.

1803

Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark expedition.

In Connecticut, Lyman Beechers antidueling sermon in 1804 and sermons on temperance in 1826 spur Americas reform movements.