TheUnitedStatesofAmerica英美概况.doc

The United States of AmericaChapter 1 American BeginningFocal PointsMeaning of the being an American according to CrevecoeurTwo immigration movements to the AmericasThe religious ReformationThe forces that brought about the modern development of EuropeThe heritage of the settlement of VirginianPuritanism and the influence of Puritanism on American cultureWilliam Penn and his heritage in American cultureThe Causes and major leader of the American revolutionI. Meaning of the being an American according to CrevecoeurIn his book , Letters from an American Farmer, the French theology Grevecoeur , posed the American was a new man with the strange mixed blood of Europeans or their descendants. This mew man left behind him all the ancient European traditions and received new ones in the new world . In North America, all individuals of all nations ,were melted into a new race of the American . This new man acted upon new principles, entertained new ideas and formed new opinions.II.Two immigration movements to the AmericasThe American continents were peopled as result of two long continuing immigration movements ,the first from Asia ,and the second from Europe and Africa.III. The forces that brought about the modern development of Europe1.the development of capitalism( economic system in which a countrys trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit ,rather than by the state), the growth of capitalism produced two new classes the bourgeois class and the working class;2.the Renaisance (the period of the revival of art and literature in the 14th ,15th and16th centuries based on classical form),which was marked by a changing outlook on life .3.the influential force was the Religious Reformationin 1517 ,Martin Luther, started to reform the Catholic Church in England ,King Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and set up the Church of England, These reforms reflected the rise of nationalism in Europe.IV.The heritage of the settlement of Virginian in 1619 ,the delegates elected from various communities in Virginia as the House of Burgesses met with the governor and his council members to discuss the enactment of law for the colony. This the first meeting of an elected legislature ,a reprehensive assembly. It was thought to be the early embryonic form for the future democracy of the U.S. And a Dutch ship brought over 20 Negroes into Virginia , a start had been made toward the enslavement of Africans within what was to be the American republic. These white people fought for seeking their own freedom ,meanwhile they deprived black African freedomWhat happened here produced the American early culture: self-reliance; democracy; freedom V. Puritanism and the influence of Puritanism on American cultureIn New England, these Puritans were the Protestants who followed the doctrine preached by John Calvin and they wanted to purify the Church of England. They had some different beliefs from the Catholic Church .They believed that human beings were predestined by God before they were born. Some were Gods chosen people while others were damned to hell. No church or good works could save people.The sign of being Gods elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling. They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find Gods will and establish a direct contact with God. These beliefs had great impact on American culture. Puritans legacies have a great impact on American society and culture. They have a kind of sense of mission: they hoped to built “ a city upon hill an ideal community ”.Americans have viewed their country as a great experiment, a worthy model for other nation a strain of often intolerant moralism. This produce American values such as individualism, hard work , respect of education .Catholic MarylandFollowing the early American culture in Virginia and New England , the pattern in the colony of Maryland was founded by Catholics. The founder was the second Lord Baltimore, he carried his fathers will ,who was converted from Church of England to Roman Catholicism, to wish to introduce a feudal system similar to the manor system in Europe to his colony. Even though he encouraged the immigration of Protestants as well as Roman Catholics ,due to the various factors in the New Land ,because the Protestants majority were capitalistic-minded people and refused to carry out the feudal plan, and because the wilderness of North America provided plenty of land while labor was scarce, the feudal experimental plan was dropped ,the colony followed a capitalist development roadVI. William Penn and his heritage in American culture William Penn was an English Quaker, the founder of Quakerism ,who wanted to establish a colony for persecuted fellow religious believers. He assured religious freedom and easy terms for land in Pennsylvania to those Europeans who wished to settle in his colony. In his Holy Experiment, he encouraged the spirit of liberty and equality and carried out the policy of separation of state and church. He set no restrictions on immigration and naturalization was made easy for non-English Europeans. The idea of Melting pot was first practiced here (p 16 ,Note 60).All this has left rich heritage to American culture: liberty and equalityThose four patterns set by the early colonial leaders were filled with meanings for the future development of the AmericanVII. The Causes of American revolution and major leaders After the Seven Years War between England and France , Britain won , the Peace of Paris was signed between them , which gave Britain title to Canada and all of North America east of the Mississippi River, This led directly to a conflict with its American colony. Stamp Act was passed ,British government charged new taxes on sugar , coffee , textiles and other imported goods; and With passage of the Stamp Act special tax stamps had to be attached to all news- papers ,pamphlets, legal documents and licensesThe Quartering Act passed, the colonies to house and feed British soldiers.major leadersGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, (John Adams),Benjamin FranklinVIII. The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence was mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson and was adopted by the Congress on July 4, 1776, when the people of 13 English colonies in North America wer