incinerate英美概况美国部分复习.docx

Melting Pot:

Immigrants from different regions and cultures came to live

in the United States, their old ways of life melt away and they became part

of the American culture

?

WASPs:

WASPS

are

the

mainstream

Americans,

referring

to

the

white

Anglo-Saxon Protestants

The

Hispanics:

The

Hispanics

are

Spanish-speaking

people

from

Latin

America, which was once dominated by the Spanish Empire

?

American Indians:

The Indian peoples are known as the first Americans.

When

Columbus

landed

in

the

New

World

in

1492,

he

thought

he

had

reached India and called the natives Indians

?

Separation of powers:

Under the federalist system, the federal and the state

governments have separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitutio

n.

^Winner-take-air

principle:

The

party

that

wins

most

votes

(simple

5

majority) in a state wins all the electoral votes for the state and the defeated

party gets none

?

Federalism:

Federalism

in

the

United

States

is

the

evolving

relationship

between U.S. state governments and the federal government of the United

States

?

Since the founding of the country, and particularly with the end of

the American Civil War, power shifted away from the states and towards

the national government.

Thanksgiving Day:

It's on the fourth Thursday of Novembe

匚

It is a typical

American holiday that originated in the colonial time

?

It is an annual day

for people to thank God for the blessing they have enjoyed during the yea

匚

The theme of thanksgiving has always been peace and plenty, health and

happiness

?

Independence Day:

It

s on July 4. It is American^ most important patriotic

9

holiday and the birthday of the nation.

Easter Sunday:

It's on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or

after March 21, and it is for celebrating the rising of Jesus Christ from his

tomb three days after his death

?

Halloween:

In the US, Halloween falls on Oct 31. It's a nighttime children's

day and a time for frightening costumes, masks, parties, games and tricks

―

all for fun..

Mayflower Compact:

It was signed by all adult male passengers on the ship.

They agreed to stick together, to abide by majority role, to have a right to

choose their own leader. It was the beginning of the US democracy.

1

The Sugar Act:

In 1764, the English Parliament passed the Sugar Act,

which imposed import duties on non-English cloth, indigo, coffee, wine,

sugar, and molasses.

2

The

Stamp

Act:

In

1765,

the

Stamp

Act

was

carried

by

the

English

Parliament. The act, aimed to collect more taxes, provided that stamp paper

must

be

used

for

all

legal

documents,

pamphlets,

newspapers,

college

diplomas,

bonds, contracts, bills of sales, license, leases and

many other

articles.

3

Boston Massacre:

In March 1770, several boys threw snowballs at the

English soldiers guarding the office building for collecting import duties in

Boston. As more people gathered and pushed forward, the jumpy soldiers

fired into the crowd, killing five protesters

?

4

The Boston Tea Party:

On the night of December 16, 1773, a band of 50

men disguised as Indians and led by Samuel Adams, boarded three British

tea-bearing ships lying at anchor in Boston Harbor and dumped their 340

chests of tea cargo into the sea

?

5

The Second Continental Congress:

While the alarms of Lexington were

still resounding, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on

May

10,

1775,

in

Independence

Hall.

The

Second

Continental

Congress

agreed to take steps to organize and equip an American army and appointed

George Washington commander in chief of the American forces. Congress

also provided for asking help from other countries, especially France which

was a rival of Britain. All these steps were aimed at preparing for armed

struggles to protect their liberties.

6

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 were

fighting for their freedom and independence from the British colonial rule

?

The document declared that all men were equal and that they were entitled