America’s Most Enduring Belief Is Also One of Its Most Dangerous

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, an event many Americans interpreted as a sign of divine favor. The article examines the enduring belief in American providentialism, tracing its roots to John Winthrop’s 1630 'city upon a hill' sermon and its continued influence in U.S. politics and culture.