英语国家概况--美国部分

英语国家概况（2） 美国部分

1． 教学内容说明

第一章 美国的起始

第二章 美国的政治制度

第三章 美国的经济

第四章 美国的宗教

第五章 美国文学

第六章 美国的教育

第七章 20世纪60年代的社会运动

第八章 美国的社会问题

第九章 美国的技术

第十章 美国的风景

第十一章 美国的体育运动

第十二章 早期的美国爵士音乐

加拿大部分：

第十三章 国家简介与其人口

第十四章 加拿大的政府和政治生活

第十五章 加拿大马赛克

第十六章 加拿大的经济

第十七章 加拿大的文学

第十八章 加拿大的国际关系

英语国家概况--美国部分

Chapter 1 American Beginnings

I. What is an American?

--- In 1782, the Frenchman J.Hector St. John de Crevecoeur(赫克托·圣约翰·德克雷夫科尔), who settled in Pennsylvania first asked the question and answered it in his book Letters from an American Farmer(«美国农人书简»)。He believed that the American was a new man with the mixed blood of Europeans or their descendants. This new man left behind him all the ancient European traditions and received new ones in the New World. In North America, all individuals were melted into a new race of the American. This new man acted upon new principles, entertained new ideas and formed new opinions.(新型的人按照新的原则办事，吸取新的思想，形成新的见解)

II. two immigration movements to the Americas

--- 1. from , who were mistakenly called by Columbus, moved to the

Americas from Asia about 25 000 years ago. They developed their own aboriginal cultures and some of them such as the Aztecs(阿兹台克文化/墨西哥地区), the Incas（印加文化/秘鲁地区） and the Mayas(玛亚文化/中美洲) were very advanced when Europeans arrived in the New World. But, as a result of European conquest, the Indian population was quickly reduced and their cultures were ruthlessly destroyed. th century.

(Christopher Columbus, an Italian sailor, believed that by sailing west from Europe he could reach the East. In 1492, he persuaded the Spanish monarchy to support his voyage. He landed on one of the Bahama Islands(巴哈马群岛) in the Caribbean Sea and thus ―discovered ‖ the New World. Based on his voyage, the Spanish king claimed the territory of the Americas and later conquered the native Americans and established a huge empire.) * The English king claimed the territory of North America based on the voyage in the year of 1497 of another Italian sailor John Cabot(约翰·卡伯特) IV. the forces that brought about the modern development of Europe

--- 1. capitalism

--- 2. Renaissance , a German theology professor,

started to reform the Catholic Church which had dominated Europe for centuries. He challenged the authority of the Pope and attacked the practice of the sale of indulgences. He believed that people could be saved only by their faith in Jesus Christ and through a direct contact with God. The next important leader of the

英语国家概况--美国部分

Reformation was 约翰·加尔文).The Religious Reformation, which was capitalistic in nature, had great impact on the modern development of

Europe and North America.)

Four colonial patterns

V伦敦贸

易公司) with a charter（特许状）from the English king James I. The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting House of Burgesses (议会), and the same time these white people seeking their own freedom bought and enslaved（奴役）black servants. These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.

VI. Puritanism

who followed the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Church of England. They believed that human beings were predestined by God before they were born(他们深信人的命运是生前就由上帝注定的。＊这是清教主义的命运天定说). Some were God‘s chosen people while others were damned to hell. No church nor good works could save people. The sign of being God‘s elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling. (一个人工作上的成功或事业上的兴旺是上帝选民的标志) They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God‘s will and establish a direct contact with God. (他们还说人人都要读«圣经»，从中探索上帝的意志，与上帝建立直接的联系).These beliefs had great impact on American culture. 清教移民先驱)

Puritans in England were persecuted for their religious beliefs, and some of them fled to Holland. In Holland, they found it hard to live in a foreign land, so they decided to move North America so that they could worship as they pleased. Supported by some merchants in London, they went on board the Mayflower in 1620. Before they landed on today‘s New England, they signed the Mayflower Compact (五月花公约)for the future civil government --- the influence of Puritanism on American culture

Puritans have left rich cultural heritage to future Americans. The American values such as

individualism, hard work, respect of education owe very much to the Puritan beliefs.(美国的价值观，如个人主义，勤奋工作，尊重教育等，在很大程度上源于清教主义)

英语国家概况--美国部分

VII. Lord Baltimore and his feudal plan

will to set up a colony in North America(in today‘s Maryland) in 1632 and became the Europe to his colony. Each gentleman who brought 5 servants with him settled in his land was allowed to …… 此处隐藏：27516字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……