American Beginnings

Chapter1 American Beginnings I.What is an American?In 1782,the Frenchman J.Hector St. John deCrevecoeur(赫克托·圣约翰·德克雷夫科尔), who settled in Pennsylvania firstasked the question and answered it in his book Letters from an AmericanFarmer(«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 leftbehind him all the ancient European traditions and received new ones inthe New World. In North America, all individuals were melted into a newrace of the American. This new man acted upon new principles,entertained new ideas and formed newopinions.(新型的人按照新的原则办事，吸取新的思想，形成新的见解).II. Two Immigration Movements to the Americas1.from Asia (American Indians,who were mistakenly called byColumbus, moved to the Americas from Asia about 25 000 years ago.They developed their own aboriginal cultures and some of them such as theAztecs(阿兹台克文化/墨西哥地区), the Incas（印加文化/秘鲁地区）and theMayas(玛亚文化/中美洲) were very advanced when Europeans arrived in theNew World. But, as a result of European conquest, the Indian populationwas quickly reduced and their cultures were ruthlessly destroyed.2. from Europe and Africa, began with the expansion of Europe from the 16th century.(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 claimed the territory of North America based on the voyage in the year of 1497 of another Italian sailor John Cabot(约翰·卡伯特)III.the forces that brought about the modern development of Europe1. Capitalism2. RenaissanceThe Renaissance was a cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life in the early modern period. Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence affected literature, philosophy, art, politics, science, religion, and other aspects of intellectual inquiry. he Renaissance era encompassesWestern music history from 1400 to the begining of the 1600. This period in time marked the rebirth of humanism, and the revival of cultural achievements for their own sake in all forms of art, including music. The word "Renaissance" in itself is defined as a "rebirth"or a "reconstruction".During this time, artists and musicians produced works that displayed more artistic freedom and individualism. This creativity allowed artists to abandon the stricter ways of the Medieval Era. Their art forms rediscovered the ancient Greek ideals. The great masters of the Renaissance were revered in their own lifetimes (rather than after their deaths), which was different from most of their Medieval predecessors. With the new printing techniques, music and musical ideas were able to be preserved and distributed to the people.3. Religious ReformationIn 1517, Martin Luther, a German theology professor, started to reform the Catholic Church which had dominated Europe for centuries. He challenged the authority of the Pope and attacked the practice of the sale of indulgences. He believed that people could be saved only by their faith in Jesus Christ and through a direct contact with God. The next important leader of the Reformation was John Calvin(约翰·加尔文).The Religious Reformation, which was capitalistic in nature, had great impact on the modern development of Europe and North America.IV．Four colonial pattern1.the settlement of Virginia (the first English permanent settlement in North America)The first English permanent settlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company(伦敦贸易公司) with a charter（特许状）from the English king James I. The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virgini a. In 1619, the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses (议会), and the same time these white people seeking their own freedom bought and enslaved（奴役）black servants. These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.2.PuritanismThe second enduring English settlement was established in Massachusetts Bay in 1620 by English puritans, who followed the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Church of England. They believed that human beings were predestined by God before they were born(他们深信人的命运是生前就由上帝注定的。