英美概況英國部分

1、 Chapter One British Section one :the country and its people 1.name and position :name : The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (U.K)position：To the west and off the European Continent, containing the Great Britain and the northern part of Ireland. Territory proportion: approximate

2、ly 240,000 square km.Population : 62.262million Three political parts: England, Wales and Scotland England (capital city: London):the biggest ,the most developed as well as the most populated country in the U.K (capital city: London) Scotland (capital city: Edinburgh):Wales :smallest part Ireland :H

3、enry VIII was the first king to bring Ireland under control; gain its independence in 1927.2.Geographic Features: Northeast to the European Continent and east to the Atlantic, to its northeast is a channel called English Channel between the U.K and France. Neighboring country that share border : Ire

4、land onlyBritain is an island country, more than1,000kilometres from south to north and 500kilometres form east to west.High Land zone：in north and west Low Land zone: in the south and east (including London).3.English Tunnel Finished in 1994,was build up by private companies from U.K and France.4.

5、Climate and Weather :Climate : maritime climate . Main character : abundant and evenly distributed rainfall. Autumn is the rainiest seasonInfluential factors: North Atlantic Drift(warm) Southwesterly wind(warm and wet. winter) Weather: changeable 5.inland water :Longest river : Severn RiverMost impo

6、rtant and second longest river: Thames RiverLakes :in the Lake District 6.People and languages : Main peoples: Celts and Anglo-Saxons Languages :English is overwhelming, some people in speaks Geltic Language 7.Religion: The majority of the British people believe Christianity. Religious education and

7、 collective worship are required by British law.8.national flag :The Union Jack or Union Flag Section two : the British Government1.Political system：Constitutional MonarchyDefinition : it means the head of state is monarch with limited powers. The monarch reigns(統(tǒng)治), but does not rule（統(tǒng)制）2.Governmen

8、t Component:Central government :consists of Monarch, Parliament and CabinetLocal governments 3.Structure of the British government:The head - monarch Legislature institution : Parliament(consists House of Commons and House of Lords)Executive Institution: Cabinet(consists of Prime Minister and Minist

9、ers of Civil service)Judicial Institution: court of appeal(supreme court)subordinate to House Of Lord4.Definations:The general idea of government :Technically speaking, British government or refers to the Cabinet(nuclear).This kind of government is called Parliamentary government or Cabinet governme

10、nt.The queen (Victoria ,Elizabeth.) ：Reigns but does not rule personifies the country, the symbol of unityAppoint the Prime Minister and other Ministers, the bills need her approval before going into effectThe parliament :Law making body ,need the approval of the monarch Consists of three parts: the

11、 monarch, the House Of Lord and the House of Common,It dont have the executive power. The House Of Lord: The upper house of the Parliament ,unelected, consist of clergy(神職人員) and members of peerage.Debating place: the Palace of WestminsterBestowed with judicial power.The Lord Chancellor: the preside

12、r of The House Of Lord as well as a member in Cabinet, he works in Department for Constitutional Affairs.head of the judiciary of England and Wales, serving as the President of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. The house of common:The centre of the parliamentary powerMain function:to pass laws

13、, bills and acts of Parliamentto scrutinize, criticize and restrain the actions of the government to influence the future government policyDefinition : democratically elected body the source of the vast majority of government ministers There is a elected speaker bills normally originate in the House

14、 of Commons. Only the House of Commons may originate bills concerning taxation or Supply The cabinet : responsible to Parliament for the administration of national affairs.The Cabinet is the most powerful and it serves as the nucleus of the Government. Debate place :Downing street. No 10 Downing Str

15、eet is a historic building that is also a place of work. It is a symbol of Government and the home to the Prime Minister and his family.Establishment time：1856supreme decision-making bodyThe Prime Minister :monarchs principal advisorappointed by monarchNo 10 Downing Street is a historic building tha

16、t is also a place of work. It is a symbol of Government and the home to the Prime Minister and his family.Local government :The English government is a three-tiered government: central government, county government and district government. The central government enforces laws through local governmen

17、ts.Section 3:British Laws and PoliticsLaws :judiciary &constitutionJudiciary :In the structure of the U.K central government, the Court of Appeal, which is subordinate to the House of Lord, is in charge of the judiciary issues. British judiciary consists of 2 branches-civil law（citizen s duties and

18、obligations） criminal law(define and enforce obligations of a person)，Its not necessary to pick up jury in the course of the civil trail while criminal trails have to be held in open court for the criminal law assume the innocent of the accused until he was proved to be guilty by a smoking gun.(reas

19、onable doubt) In the process of the criminal trail by jury. The judge pass the result issued by the jury. Jury system(mostly used in criminal trial)Definition :In the United kingdom the court is open to the public and the jury is used during the trial. 12members, random selection, obligation, chosen

20、 by both side(the plaintiff and the defendant)Unanimous verdict Constitution :No written constitution in U.K, its function is embodied by several separate lawsFour elements of the British legal ：acts of the parliament/Statutory Law（國內(nèi)成文法）,common law(公民法),convention(慣例、習(xí)慣法), EU legislation（歐盟法）Barris

21、ter -inn court, bar examinationPolitics :Politic system :a two-party political system. political parties: the Whig PartyLiberal Party the Tory PartyConservative Party majority seats in the Parliament means the power to form a government (government party, opposition parties )Government policies are

22、initiated by whips There is no need to apply for membership in a party.The conservative party -right wing-oldMain support-middle and upper-middle class.Advocation :privatization of the state owned firmsfree enterprise advocate :pragmatismindividualism.Margaret ThatcherThe labor party-left wing/the l

23、eft Created by trade union Mixture of the two parties Doctrine of Socialism Main support : Working classAdvocation :Establish a welfare state Nationalized industry Exercise control over the private industries to revive the primary industry Liberal Democratic-minority partyadvocates policies based on

24、 freedom of the individual and supports the adoption of Propositional Representation at elections(代議制選舉)Election:Prime Ministers are elected from nationalConstituency (選區(qū))Period： 5 yearsGovernment :the party has the majority seats of the parliament.Prime Minister :the leader of the majority party.Se

25、ction 4:national economy and major cities1. General Survey :first country to start industrial revolution; comprehensive industry system mineral production：mainly exhausted, others are mainly oil and gas economy model :one of the most essential market economy in the world.Industry :n comprehensive in

26、dustry system n one of the seven major industrialized countries of the Western Worldfinance : London is one of the financial centre of the worlds business trade: long coastline ,limited domestic market ,inadequate raw material ,trading nation, petroleum tradeAs for Sino-British trade: China: raw mat

27、erials, sideline productsBritain: technical equipment Britain is Chinas 4th biggest European trade partnereconomic influence :one of the seven major industrialized countries of the Western World, the member of the G8 summit Framework of economy :Economy system : capitalism ,including Public Sector a

28、nd Private Sector.GDP: The worlds sixth largest economyCurrency: sterling Mining :Oil(.self sufficient .North sea,1975) ,Gas, and Coal (be kept for future use)Manufacturing Industry: Iron and steel industry is the largest manufacturing industry.A large auto-vehicle industry-Aston Martin, Land Rover,

29、 Dodge, and Rolls Royce. Agriculture :favorable condition : mild climate ,Highly mechanized ,Important department :Dairy farming and fishinganimal husbandry Poultry pltr meat Energy production Major Energy Companies: Shell, British Petroleum ptrlm (BP), British Gas (BG) Transportation Well-known mer

30、chant marine One of the busiest railways in the worldDeveloped highways and airlines (the major airline are mainly operated by the British airways(state-owned) Communication (all state-owned) One of the largest and most developed in the world “999”for police, fireman and ambulance Largest telecommun

31、ication provider-BT(British Tele communication) FinanceCentral bank of the UK：controls the currency and actsmaintain the integrity and value of the currencyEconomy structuresServices industries, especially, business and financial servicesthe strongest performing sector in the UK economy with London

32、being the most developed area in the whole country.major citiesLondon 南岸，倫敦眼摩天輪 杜莎夫人蠟像館天文館（Madame Tussauds/Planetarium） 倫敦塔 倫敦地牢 敞篷巴士倫敦觀光游（The Original London Tour） 議會大廈（Houses of Parliament）夏季對外開放 西區(qū)和威斯敏斯特大教堂（Westminster Abbey）觀光 達(dá)利的世界展覽館（Dali Universe） 漢普頓宮（Hampton Court Palace） 肯辛頓宮（Kensington Pa

33、lace）Belfast Manchester Cardiff Edinburg BirminghamChapter two Section 5 :Origin of the English NationThe native Celt :Celt are considered to be the natives of Great Britain and the ancestors of the Scots, Irish and Welsh people Originate from：Eastern and central Europe Roman Conquest： Brought about

34、 Christianity.Occupied England until 410 A.DLater on, the Jutes and Angles landed, the Angles(the winner) gave the name to England and English people.Alfred the Great.First (Anglo-Saxon )king of (all) England “The father of the British navy.”The battle of HastingsHarold GodwinsonBrave and respectful

35、, but not the direct heir of the throne. But he managed to crown himself the king by wining the support of the Witan William the Conqueror Edwards cousin Set out from Normandy to English south coast Battlefield :Build up a fort and camped in Hasting, southeastern England. Result : William won, battl

36、e abbey mourn for the deadBe crowned in Westminster on Christmas day of 1066,becoming the first Anglo-Norman king of England.Influence :Sped up the development of feudalism in Britain, after the war, the feudalism system was established.Build up the tower of London Feudal aristocracy was established

37、.Open up a bi-lingual period in English history Last invasion of England initiated by foreigners Feudalism system:Established by William the great.The throne provides the land and castles The monarch will need the support from the barons Definition :feudal system - giving land in return for service.

38、 Section 6: the decline of feudalism in EnglandHenry II and His Reform :William consolidated the feudalism and he took all kinds of measures to strengthen the kings power, which intensify the conflicts between the monarch and his barons Henry the 2nd came into power and become the first king of Plan

39、tagenet (金雀花)dynasty.Measures：force the foreign mercenaries to leave the England, demolish the illegal castles built by the barons,abolish the land tax based on hide create the circuit courts and the jury systemthe kings court have the right to try the guilty clerkEffect:Strengthen the feudal order

40、Bring a period of security and prosperity The course of the form was interrupted and left unfinished.The Great Charter When the king John ruled the England, the barons force the king to sign and swear to observe the Great Charter.The Great Charter ,or the Magna Charter is very critical in English hi

41、story and its called the corner stone of English history.The content : The king must observe the rights of his vessels.No tax should be imposed without the consent of the Great Council.No free man will be imprisoned or banished without being convicted by a juryThe merchants are allowed to move about

42、 freely.Birth of the Parliament:Simon de Montfort(西蒙德孟福爾)brings changes to the organization of the Great Council.2citizens from a flourishing town,2 knights from each county can join the Great Council.Changed the name into Parliament.In the early years, Parliament met only by the kings invitation. I

43、ts role was to offer some advice. Significance :The Parliament marked the decline of feudalism and the rise of the Bourgeoisie. The hundred years warReason:The conflict between these two countries over foreign markets and territory led to the Hundred Years War. Definition :A series armed internation

44、al conflicts over a 116-year period between the England and France.Joan of arcThe effect:England lost its territory on the continent.The ruling Norman began to regard England as their homeEnglish replaced French and became the official language again.Gunpowder was used in the wars,Prepare the soil f

45、or the growth of the middle class Sped up the decline of the feudalism.Salutary to commercial development.The bourgeoisie became more powerfulThe PlagueEpidemic disease spread by rat fleasStart from Italy, then spread to France, German and England without warning and cure.Believed to be originated i

46、n Asia.Effect: Caused a large number of population loss Brought about economic disruption and bad influence on the development of the culture.(universities closed )give occasion to the peasants uprising.The Peasants UprisingCauses:The natural disasters and social problemsDue to the lack of labor, th

47、e peasants are demanding better living condition and higher wages The first labor law, the Statute of Laborers, prohibited laborers from asking for more wages.Time and place:In Essex and Kent ,1381,and was led by Wat Tyler and Jack Straw The king used a scam and suppressed the uprising, ultimately,

48、the uprising was failed Effect :The poll tax was abolishedThe serf system was brought to an end in England afterwards.The Wars of the RosesDefinition :A series of civil wars fought between the house of Lancaster(red rose) and the house of York（white rose）.Major Causes: The dispute on the succession

49、of the crownThe unpopular domination reign of Henry the 6th.Consequence :Both sides at war are the mounted knights and their entouragesGive birth to the strong and centralized Tudor dynastyInfluence :Sped up the decline of the feudalism in England.Section 8:The English Civil War/RevolutionBriefing :

50、A series of armed conflicts and political games between Parliamentarians and Royalist. Back Ground:The Wars of Roses weaken the feudal nobles, The peasants ,as a result of the peasant uprising and the Enclosure ,the free labors composed a new class-the proletariat (the peasants no longer have their

51、lands) England further develop its foreign trade and expansion ,aiming to achieve its “primitive accumulation of capital”Meanwhile，the bourgeois ideology and morality is forming up. During the Elizabeths reign the relation between monarch and bourgeoisie was strained, the latter required the freedom

52、 of speech James the first:Preach the Divine Right of KingsDied because of disease. Charles the first:The son of James the first.Advocate the Divine right of kings(君權(quán)神授)Provoked the conflicts between the Catholicism and Puritanism(The Bishops War- enforce Anglican reforms onto Scottish church and wa

53、s rejected,-war ,long parliament which sowed the seeds for the civil war).Initiated the British Civil (rose his standard) War between Parliamentarian and Royalist.The First British War:Cause :The appearance of the Long Term Parliament.The tension between the king and ParliamentCharles decided to arr

54、est 5members of Parliament.Charles initiated the war by rising his standard in Nottingham .Result :Charles was failed and was captured The Second Civil War: Process:Although captured ,the king Charles the first ultimately escaped and negotiated new agreement with Scots. The agreement led to the “sec

55、ond civil war”. but eventually, the Royalists were defeated by Parliamentarians. Other revolts were put down by Oliver Cromwell. The army marched on the parliament and conducted the “Prides Purge” Finally, the king was charged with high treason ,being “tyrant, traitor, murderer and public enemy” and executed. The third Civil war:Rebellion:Ireland(treaty) and Scotland agreed to support Charles the second.Process:Cromwell was unable to stop Charles the second, he crowned a new king. Afterwards, Charles the 2nd fled to France, ended up the war