美国基本概况

ContemporaryAmericanCultureandSociety,大学英语部邵义CourseContents,IntroductionandthegovernmentAmendmentsandeducationImmigrantsandethnicityFamilyandreligionDomesticeconomyandpoliticsWorkandsocialwelfare7.Tourismandholiday8.Media,leisureandrecreation9.Justice,thelaw,crimeandthepolice10.Americaandtheworld,Courserequirements,1.Attendance2.Exam,Warming-upActivity,SayanythingyouknowabouttheUnitedStates,suchassomeAmericansymbols.,Boeing777,ChapterOne:Introduction,1.geographyTheUnitedStatesis9,372,614kinsize,withitscontinentextending4,505kmeasttowest,2574kmnorthtosouth.AflightfromNewYorktoSanFranciscotakesfiveandahalfhours.Atripbycarfromcoasttocoasttakesfivetosixdays.,2.Abriefhistory,BeforetheDeclarationofIndependenceColumbusdiscoveredtheAmericancontinentin1492.Beforethen,theAmericanIndianslivedonthiscontinent.Europeanscametothenewcontinentafter1492,andthecontinentbecamecoloniesoftheUnitedKingdom.,2.Abriefhistory,DeclarationofIndependenceIn1776，DeclarationofIndependencewasdraftedbyThomasJefferson.Propertyasoneofhumanbeingsinalienablerightswaswritteninthisdocument.,2.Abriefhistory,AdoptingtheConstitutionAmericanconstitution,writtenin1787isthebasisoftheAmericannationalgovernment.Itdividesthegovernmentintothreebranches:legislativebranch,executivebranch,andjudicialbranch.Thisistheso-calledseparationofpowers.,2.Abriefhistory,TheCivilWar(1861-1865)ElevenSouthernslavestatesdeclaredtheirsecessionfromtheU.S.andformedtheConfederateStatesofAmericaandtheyfoughtagainsttheU.S.federalgovernment.About620,000soldiersdiedinthewar.Slaverywasendedandthefederalgovernmentwasstrengthened.,TheCivilWar,2.Abriefhistory,TheGildedAge(1865-1900)IndustryandcommerceBy1900,industrysurpassedagriculture.MaterialcomfortforthemiddleandupperclassHardshipandhopelessnessformillionsoflaborers1850:85%rural;1920:over50%urban,2.Abriefhistory,The1920sandtheGreatDepressionAssemblyline,thecity,andthecarbecamedominantfeaturesofeverydaylife.Afterthecollapseoftheeconomyin1929,optimismofthe1920sturnedtobleakdespair.TheDepressionbroughtphysicalandpsychologicalhardshiptoallclassesofAmerica.,TheGreatDepression,2.Abriefhistory,WorldWarIIThewarendedtheDepressionduetoproductionoftanksandaircraft.Theprosperitybenefitedalllevelsofwageearners.,2.Abriefhistory,Babyboomersandcounterculturemovement(The1950sand1960s)#Economicprosperityafterthewar#Variousdesirestobesatisfied#Socialchanges:racialandsexualdiscrimination,poverty,valuesandlifestyles.#Divorce,viewofsex,homosexuality,2.Abriefhistory,TheVietnamWar(1961-1973)Over58,000Americanliveswerelostinthewar,untilUSwithdrewin1973.Americansdisagreedviolentlyaboutthewar.Thebaby-boomershelpedtoendthewarthroughtheirprotests.,2.Abriefhistory,CultureWarsTraditionalvalueshavebeenweakened.Over30percentofallbirthsweregivenbyunmarriedwomen.Ideasaboutsexroleschanged.Gaymovementrootedinbigcities.,3.Populationtrends,TheUShasapopulationof310,258,861.12.8%isblack,11.5%isHispanic,4%AsianandPacificIslander,and0.9%isAmericanIndians.ThehistoryoftheUnitedStatesisreallythestoryofvariousimmigrantgroupsworkingtogethertobuildauniquenation.,3.Populationtrends,TheUnitedStatesnowisknownasameltingpot,composedofimmigrantsfromdifferentnationsallovertheworld.Mostimmigrantstreasurealltheirlivesthetraditionsoftheirhomelandandshareaspecialbondwithpeopleofthesamenationalorigin.,3.Populationtrends,Urbanization1850:15%inurbanareas1920:morethan50%Todaymorethan80%ofAmericansliveinurbanareas.Thecityisahotbedofcorruptionwhilethecountrybreedshealthylife.Desireforclosenesstonatureandbiggerprivatespace.,3.Populationtrends,SuburbanboomTomakeareconciliationbetweenthecityandthecountry,theAmericansbegansuburbanizationafterWWII.TheautomobilesandfreewaysAsuburbanhomewithyardsbecomethesymbolofAmericanmiddleclass.Smalltownsgrowandbigcitiesdeclinesincethe1960s.,4.Economy,GDP:GrossDomesticProduct1UnitedStates14,330,0002Japan4,844,0003China(PRC)4,222,0004Germany3,818,0005France2,978,0006UnitedKingdom2,787,0007Italy2,399,0008Russia1,757,0009Spain1,683,00010Brazil1,665,000(2008,million)GDPpercapita,4.Economy,ThepublicsectoronlyaccountsforonefifthofAmericaneconomicactivity,withtherestinprivatehands.Thehugewealthisproducedbyprivateindustriesandbusinesses,bigorsmall.Foragriculture,90%farmsareprivatepropertyofthefarmers,whobenefitfrompubliceducation,roads,supportpricesandsoon.,4.Economy,PolarizedWealthDistributionUSisoneoftherichestcountries,with5%ofworldpopulationconsuming30%worldproduction.Thetop10%ofhouseholdsown30%ofthenationswealth.,4.Economy,GDPcompositionAgriculture,2%Industry,18%Services,80%InformationtechnologyElectroniccommerceFinanceTrade,Discussion,ReportssaythatChinasGDPin2009hassurpassedJapanandbecamethesecondlargestinworld.IsChinareallysorich?,5.Definitionofclass,TheupperclassIncludespropertyowners,corporateandbusinessowners,largeemployersandfinanciers.Thiselitegroupownsmostofthewealth,andwealthiest10%ofthepopulationowns90%corporatestocksand95bonds.,Theupperclass,5.Definitionofclass,ThemiddleclassIncludesmanagers,smallbusinessowners,farmersandprofessionalssuchasattorneys,physicians,supervisors,foremen,teachers.Surveyshowsthatmorethan70%ofAmericansbelievetheyaremiddle-class.,Themiddleclass,5.Definitionofclass,Theworkingclassincludespeoplewhoareneitherprofessionalsnormanagersandwhomakealivingbyworkingforothers.Factoryandconstructionworkers,restaurantworkers,clericalworkers,andmanualandagriculturallaborersfallintothisclass.,Theworkingclass,5.Definitionofclass,BeliefinsocialmobilityPeoplecanmoveupwardiftheyworklongandhard,saveandinvestwisely.Thisbeliefdiminishesclassconsciousnessandpoliticalconflictamongclasses.ThatisthereasonwhyclassconflictisnotsointenseinUSasinothercountries.,6.BasicAmericanvalues,A:IndividualfreedomHistoryhasaprofoundeffectontheshapingoftheAmericancharacter.Theearliestsettlerscametothiscontinenttoescapethecontrolsbykingsandgovernments,churchesandnoblemen.Allindividualswanttocontroltheirowndestiny.,Discussion,WhatisyourdefinitionofChinesemiddleclass?,6.BasicAmericanvalues,B:self-relianceAmericansbelievethattheyshouldstandontheirownfeet,achievingbothfinancialandemotionalindependencefromtheirparentsasearlyaspossible,usuallybyage18or21.,6.BasicAmericanvalues,C:EqualchancetosucceedThebeliefthateveryonehasanequalchancetosucceedintheUSisthereasonwhyimmigrantshavebeenattractedtothecountry.BecausetitlesofnobilityisforbiddenintheConstitution,noformalclasssystemdevelopedintheUS.,6.BasicAmericanvalues,D:competitionIflifeisseenasarace,thenapersonmustruntheraceinordertosucceed.Actually,anypeoplewhodonotcompetesuccessfullydonotfitintothemainstreamofAmericanlife.,6.BasicAmericanvalues,E:materialwealthImmigrantscametotheUSforabetterlife.Materialwealthbecomesavalueandanacceptedmeasureofsocialstatus.GoingfromragstorichesbecomesasloganfortheAmericanDream.,6.BasicAmericanvalues,F:hardworkHardworkhasbeennecessaryandrewardingformostAmericansthroughouttheirhistory.“Mostpeoplearepoorbecausetheydeservetobe.”_Byapolitician,7.ConstitutiontheWashingtonNationalCathedral;theThomasJeffersonMemorial;theUnitedStatesCapitol;theLincolnMemorial;andtheVietnamVeteransMemorial.,TheWashingtonNationalCathedral,TheWashingtonNationalCathedral,CongresshasdesignatedtheWashingtonNationalCathedralastheNationalHouseofPrayer,andthebuildinghas,overtheyears,playedaroleinunitingAmericansthroughbothreligiousandsecularservices.,ThestatefuneralofPresidentRonaldReagan,TheLincolnMemorial,8.WashingtonD.C.,Washington,D.C.isanationalcenterforthearts.TheJohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArtsishometotheNationalSymphonyOrchestra,theWashingtonNationalOpera,andtheWashingtonBallet.TheKennedyCenterHonorsareawardedeachyeartothoseintheperformingartswhohavecontributedgreatlytotheculturallifeoftheUnitedStates.,JohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArts,8.WashingtonD.C.,WecansumupthatWashingtonD.C.isespeciallyimportantinPolitics,HistoryandCultureandArts.Ifyouareinterestedinthem,youshouldnotmiss