Political Myths: Manifest Destiny, City on a Hill, and the Construction of American Identity

Political myths shape collective identity and purpose, as illustrated by the myth of manifest destiny and the related idea of America as a 'city on a hill.' The myth of manifest destiny holds that the United States has a divinely ordained mission to expand and serve as an exemplar for the world. This myth was used in the 1800s to justify westward expansion, often at the expense of Native Americans. The 'city on a hill' phrase originates from a 17th-century speech by Puritan John Winthrop, who cautioned that failure would bring divine disfavor. Presidents John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama have invoked this imagery, as did the 2022 January 6th hearing. The myth appeals to a sense of common destiny, uniting Americans across religious and political lines. However, it also carries racist and colonial undertones, as it implicitly privileges white Protestant settlers. The myth persists because it provides meaning and purpose, countering existential despair. Attempts to replace such myths inevitably require new myths, as they are foundational to collective identity and common sense. The article concludes that political myths cannot be eradicated, only supplanted.