美国文化概况[精选].doc

Stereotype secondary schools parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy Chapter I American Beginnings What is an American? In 1782, the Frenchman J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur who settled in Pennsylvania first asked the question and answered it in his book Letters from an American Farmer(?美国农人书简?)。He believed that the American was a new man with the mixed blood of Europeans or their descendants. This new man left behind him all the ancient European traditions and received new ones in the New World. In North America, all individuals were melted into a new race of the American. This new man acted upon new principles, entertained new ideas and formed new opinions. (新型的人按照新的原则办事，吸取新的思想，形成新的见解) A New Land, Two Immigration Movements 1.The first movement began probably 25,000 years ago, when Siberian（西伯利亚）tribes, in search of new hunting grounds or of refuge from pursuing enemies (American Indians, who were mistakenly called by Columbus) moved to the Americas from Asia. By 1492, over 10-20 million people inhabited the Americas. They developed their own aboriginal cultures and some of them such as the Aztecs(阿兹台克文化/墨西哥地区), the Incas（印加文化/秘鲁地区） and the Mayas (玛亚文化/中美洲) were very advanced when Europeans arrived in the New World. But, as a result of European conquest, the Indian population was quickly reduced and their cultures were ruthlessly destroyed. 2. The second immigration to America began with the expansion of Europe at the start of the modern period from the 16th century. A New Land, the discovery of America Christopher Columbus, an Italian sailor, believed that by sailing west from Europe he could reach the East. In 1492, he persuaded the Spanish monarchy to support his voyage. He landed on one of the Bahama Islands(巴哈马群岛) in the Caribbean Sea and thus “discovered ” the New World. Based on his voyage, the Spanish king claimed the territory of the Americas and later conquered the native Americans and established a huge empire. The English king