EXAM May 2019

Now the only way to avoid this shipwreck, and to provide for our posterity, is to follow the counsel of
Micah, to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God. For this end, we
must be knit together, in this work, as one man. We must entertain each other in brotherly affection.
We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of other’s necessities. We
must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience and liberality. We
must delight in each other; make other’s conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor
and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as
members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of
peace. The Lord will be our God, and delight to dwell among us, as his own people, and will
command a blessing upon us in all our ways. So that we shall see much more of his wisdom, power,
goodness and truth, than formerly we have been acquainted with. We shall find that the God of Israel
is among us, when ten of us shall be able to resist a thousand of our enemies; when he shall make us a
praise and glory that men shall say of succeeding plantations, “the Lord make it likely that of New
England.” For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are
upon us.

John Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity”, 1630

1. Situate the author and the historical context of this document.

2. What sort of community does Winthrop want to build ? Justify your answer by quoting
from the text.
3. Explain and comment on the underlined segment.

Question :

Define the notion of « natural » or « inalienable » rights and show that the notions of natural
rights and liberty played a major role in the construction of the United States (1760s-1791).
EXAM June 2019

Assenting to the "self-evident truth" maintained in the American Declaration of

Independence, "that all men are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights -- among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," I shall
strenuously contend for the immediate enfranchisement of our slave population. In Park-street
Church, on the Fourth of July, 1829, in an address on slavery, I unreflectingly assented to the
popular but pernicious doctrine of gradual abolition. I seize this opportunity to make a full
and unequivocal recantation, and thus publicly to ask pardon of my God, of my country, and
of my brethren the poor slaves, for having uttered a sentiment so full of timidity, injustice and
absurdity. A similar recantation, from my pen, was published in the Genius of Universal
Emancipation at Baltimore, in September, 1829. My consicence in now satisfied.

W L Garrison, The Liberator, 1831

1 In the first half of the 19th century, what was the situation of many Black people in the
southern states of the United States?

2 Who was William Lloyd Garrison ? What does he demand in this extract and how does he
justify his position ?

3 What does the underlined segment refer to ? Quote from the text. Why did Garrison ask
pardon of his God, his country and his « brethren the poor slaves » ?

Question :

Write a well-structured essay describing the main differences between the southern and the
northern colonies which were established by the British in North America.