英美文化——美國篇PPT課件.ppt

1、Introduction,Area: total: 9,631,418 sq km, (worlds third-largest country by size ,after Russia and Canada) land: 9,161,923 sq km water: 469,495 sq km note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia Population: 293,027,571 (July 2004 est.), (worlds third-largest country by population, afte

2、r China and India) Capital: Washington, DC Monetary unit: US dollar ($) Languages: English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority) Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico,1,Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho,

3、Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Mississippi, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Sout

4、h Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Alaska, Hawaii,2,American History,The first Americans: The first people reached North America probably 25,000 years ago from Siberia over the

5、 Bering Strait to Alaska. By 1492, over 10-20 million people, mistakenly called Indians by Christopher Columbus, inhabited the Americas.,3,The first Europeans to arrive in North America around the year 985 were Norse, people from the Scandinavians (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland). The early 16

6、00s saw the beginning of a great tide of emigration from Europe to North America. The Englishmen began to establish permanent settlements in North America by the beginning of the 17th century.,4,Reasons for European Immigration,Most European emigrants left their homelands to escape political oppress

7、ion, to seek the freedom to practice their religion, or for adventure and opportunities. Between 1620 and 1635, economic difficulties swept England. Colonial expansion became an outlet for this displaced population. In the 1630s, arbitrary rule by Englands Charles I gave impetus to the migration to

8、the New World. In contrast to the colonization policies of other countries and other periods, the emigration from England was not directly sponsored by the government but by private groups of individuals whose chief motive was profit.,5,The Settlement in Virginia,The first of the British colonies to

9、 take hold in North America in 1607 was Jamestown, Virginia. On May 14, 1607, the Virginia Company explorers landed on Jamestown Island, to establish the Virginia English colony on the banks of the James River 60 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The first representative assembly in the Ne

10、w World convened in the Jamestown church on July 30, 1619. This is the first example for the future United States.,6,The Historical Importance of Jamestown,The Far East has its Mecca, Palestine its Jerusalem, France its Lourdes, and Italy its Loretto, but Americas only shrines are her altars of patr

11、iotism - the first and most potent being Jamestown; the sire of Virginia, and Virginia the mother of this great Republic.,7,Puritan New England,New England includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island. The second English settlement was established by English pu

12、ritans in Massachusetts in 1620 when 35 Puritans and 67 non-Puritans took the ship Mayflower for North America. The Puritans hoped to build “a city upon hill”-an ideal community, a worthy model for others.,8,Catholic Maryland,In 1634 the ships Ark and Dove brought settlers (both Catholic and Protest

13、ant) to the Western Shore, and a settlement called St. Marys was set up. Lord Baltimore, founder of Maryland, wished to introduce a feudal system to his colony but failed not long after the founding of his colony.,9,Quaker Pennsylvania,In 1681 King Charles II gave William Penn a huge tract of land i

14、n North America and named it, Pennsilvania, or Penns Woods. William Penn came to North America in 1682 and set the 4th colonial pattern in Pennsylvania: all those who settled in his land would enjoy religious freedom; anyone who would settle in his colony could get some land almost for nothing. Thom

15、as Jefferson called Penn the greatest law-giver the world has produced.,10,The American Revolution (1775-1783),The historical importance: The American Revolution officially proclaimed the birth of a new nation of Americans. The American Revolution ended two centuries of British rule for most of the

16、North American colonies and created the modern United States of America. In the wake of the Revolution came events as varied as the drafting and ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America and the rebellions of slaves who saw the contrast between slavery and proclamations of lib

17、erty.,11,Important Figures of the Revolution,George Washington (1732-1799): Born in 1732 into a Virginia planter family. From 1759 to the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands around Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1775 elected Commander in

18、Chief of the Continental Army. In 1781 launched the brilliantly planned and executed Yorktown Campaign against Charles Cornwallis, securing the American victory. Became the first President of the United States in 1789.,12,Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826),Born in 1743 into a Virginia planter family. Draf

19、ted the Declaration of Independence. Served as governor of Virginia, as U.S. minister to France, as secretary of state under George Washington, as vice-president in the administration of John Adams. Became the third President of the United States in 1801.,13,The Declaration of Independence,Adopted i

20、n 1776 and officially proclaimed the independence of 13 North American colonies. Regarded as the want, will, and hopes of the people. The nations most cherishedsymbol of liberty,14,The War of Independence came to an end in 1781 with the victory of North Americans. The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1

21、783 and Britain had to recognize the independence of the United States. “His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, So

22、uth Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and independent states, that he treats with them as such, and for himself, his heirs, and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety, and territorial rights of the same and every part thereof.” (from the Treaty of Paris) A new Amer

23、ican nation was thus born.,15,The Treaty of Paris (1783),Although Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown in the Fall of 1781 marked the end of the Revolutionary War, minor battles between the British and the colonists continued for another two years. Finally, in February of 1783 George III issued his Proc

24、lamation of Cessation of Hostilities, culminating in the Peace Treaty of 1783. Signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, the agreement- also known as the Paris Peace Treaty- formally ended the United States War for Independence.,16,Representing the United States were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Jo

25、hn Jay, all of whom signed the treaty. In addition to giving formal recognition to the U.S., the nine articles that embodied the treaty: established U.S. boundaries, specified certain fishing rights, allowed creditors of each country to be paid by citizens of the other, restored the rights and prope

26、rty of Loyalists, opened up the Mississippi River to citizens of both nations and provided for evacuation of all British forces.,Painting by Benjamin West depicting John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin. The British commissioners refused to pose, and the

27、 picture was never finished.,17,The Political System,The Articles of Confederation: the first constitution of the United States. Drafted in 1777 by the same Continental Congress that passed the Declaration of Independence, the articles established a firm league of friendship between and among the 13

28、 states. It became operative on March 1, 1781 when the last of the 13 states signed on to the document.,18,Constitution,After the War of Independence, each new state had its own government, made its own laws and handled all of its internal affairs. The states didnt cooperate with each other. So in 1

29、787 the Congress held a meeting, later known as the Constitutional Convention, to make a new constitution. The Constitution opens with a Preamble, which makes it clear that the government is set up by “We, the people” and its purpose is to “promote the general welfare and secure the blessing of libe

30、rty to ourselves and our posterity.” According to the Constitution, the government should consist of three branches: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. Each branch has powers that the others dont have and each branch has a way of counteracting and limiting any wrongful action by anothe

31、r branch.,19,Bill of Rights,Some representatives, led by Thomas Jefferson, criticized the new Constitution because it didnt provide guarantee for individual and state rights. So the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in 1791. It was in the form of the first ten amendments. The first nine p

32、rovided guarantee for individual rights which included the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to bear arms, and the right to have fair trials. The tenth guaranteed state powers.,20,Legislative Branch,The Constitution invested the legislative power in the Congress, which is the only b

33、ranch that can make federal laws, levy taxes, declare war, decide the government budget, establish a monetary system, put foreign treaties into effect, impeach the President, Vice President, federal judges, and all other civil officers. The U. S. Congress is composed of two houses: the Senate and th

34、e House of Representatives.,The U. S. Capitol,21,The Senate,It consists of 100 members, two from each of the fifty states regardless of population so that the small states have an equal voice in the Congress. Senators serve for six years and their terms are staggered. So only one-third of the Senate

35、 is elected every two years. The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate. But he doesnt vote unless the votes are equally divided.,22,The House of Representatives,The seats are apportioned among the 50 states according to population. The whole country is divided into 435 c

36、ongressional districts. Voters in each district elect one representative. House representatives serve for two years. The leader of the House of Representatives is the Speaker, who is elected by members of the House and usually is the leader of the Majority Party in the House.,23,The Speaker,The Spea

37、ker typically maintains three roles, as the Representative for his or her district, as a leader of his or her party, and as the leader of the House as a whole. On January 6, 2009, Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 111th Congress.,24,Procedure of Lawmaking,Th

38、e process of lawmaking starts when a member of Congress proposes a bill. The bill can originate in either house, except that bills related to budget and expenses have to originate in the House of Representatives. If the bill is passed in the House, it goes to the Senate. When both houses approve the

39、 bill, it goes to the President to be signed into law.,25,Executive Branch,The power of the executive branch is vested in the President. As the chief executive officer of the nation, the Presidents duty is to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States” and to faithfully exec

40、ute laws passed by Congress. The President is assisted by a Cabinet in the execution of his duty. The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of executive departments.,26,Presidential Election,The President is elected for a four-year term and can be elected to only two terms. The President

41、 is elected by the Electoral College. The number of electors in the Electoral College is the same as the total number of members in Congress, but no senators, representatives, or people who hold important offices can be electors. The Presidential candidate who gets the majority of electoral votes be

42、comes the President.,27,The Constitution requires the president to be a native-born American citizen at least 35 years of age. Candidates for the presidency are chosen by political parties several months before the presidential election, which is held every four years (in years divisible evenly by f

43、our) on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The method of electing the president is peculiar to the American system. Although the names of the candidates appear on the ballots, technically the people of each state do not vote directly for the president (and vice president). Instead

44、, they select a slate of presidential electors, equal to the number of senators and representatives each state has in Congress. The candidate with the highest number of votes in each state wins all the electoral votes of that state.,28,The electors of all 50 states and the District of Columbia - a t

45、otal of 538 persons - compose what is known as the Electoral College. Under the terms of the Constitution, the College never meets as a body. Instead, the electors gather in the state capitals shortly after the election and cast their votes for the candidate with the largest number of popular votes

46、in their respective states. To be successful, a candidate for the presidency must receive 270 votes. The Constitution stipulates that if no candidate has a majority, the decision shall be made by the House of Representatives, with all members from a state voting as a unit. In this event, each state

47、and the District of Columbia would be allotted one vote only.,29,The presidential term of four years begins on January 20 (it was changed from March by the 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933) following a November election. The president starts his or her official duties with an inauguration ceremony,

48、traditionally held on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, where Congress meets. The president publicly takes an oath of office, which is traditionally administered by the chief justice of the United States. The words are prescribed in Article II of the Constitution: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that

49、I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” The oath-taking ceremony is usually followed by an inaugural address in which the new president outlines the policies and p

50、lans of his or her administration.,30,Abraham Lincoln,Born on Feb. 12, 1809 in Kentucky. Elected as 16th U.S. president on Nov. 6, 1860 and the first Republican. Re-elected president on Nov 8, 1864. Lincoln was shot in the head on April 14, 1865 and died the next day.,31,Emperor Norton,Joshua A. Nor

51、ton: Born in London, England on Feb. 14, 1819. Sep.17, 1859 “Joshua A. Norton, who lost his money in an attempt to corner the rice market, today declared himself Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico. ” (San Francisco Bulletin) Dead on Jan. 8, 1880. Le Roi Est Mort January 7

52、, 1980 San Francisco marked the 100th anniversary of the death of its only monarch, Emperor Norton.,32,Judicial Branch,The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, is responsible for the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, Congressional laws, and presidential policies. Judicial powers are

53、exercised by the federal courts which are divided into three tiers: the district courts, the circuit courts, and the Supreme Court. The district courts are trial courts which hear all kinds of federal cases. There are 94 district courts and two special trial courts, the Court of International Trade

54、and the United States Court of Federal Claims.,33,Above the district courts, there are 13 courts of appeals, also known as circuit courts, which hear cases from the district courts located in the circuit. At the top of the judicial branch is the United States Supreme Court, which is the highest cour

55、t for the whole nation on issues involving the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.,Ken Starr, independent prosecutor,34,Legal Procedures,In civil cases, the plaintiff starts a case by filing a complaint at court. Then the defendant would plead. Many cases end in negotiated settlements, only a s

56、mall number of civil cases end in jury trials. In criminal cases, the government is the prosecutor and is responsible for providing evidence to prove that the defendant is guilty. If the suspect is convicted, he is sentenced by the judge or by the jury.,35,Political Parties,There are two major polit

57、ical parties in the United States: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. There are many other small parties such as Green Party of the United States, Libertarian Party, All-African Peoples Revolutionary Party, American Beer Drinkers Party, American Fascist Movement, American Heritage Party,

58、 Americanist Party, American Nazi Party, American Pagan Party, American Party, American Reform Party, American Renewal Party and so on. Actually all elections, especially the Presidential election, are usually the fights between the two major parties because other parties have never won any presiden

59、tial election.,36,The Republican Party,The Republican Party, with the elephant as its symbol, started in the late 1850s and won its first presidential election in 1860 with Abraham Lincoln as its presidential candidate. It started as a party against slavery. It advocates the principle of capitalist economy and political democracy. It believes in equal opportunity but doesnt believe that government should play a big role in helping the poor materially.,37,The Democratic Party,The Democratic Party, with the