英美国家文化概况名词解释

英美文化名词解释威廉征服者William who was Duke of Normandy, landed his army in southeast England in September 1066. Harold, who had been fighting rebels in north England, armed with bows and arrows. He was crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1066 and became known as William the Conqueror. The Normandy line of kings began to rule England.大宪章On June 15, 1215, king John signed and swore to observe the charter the nobles had prepared. The charter, known as the Greater Charter, or the Magna Carta, is as important to the English people as the Declaration of Independence is important to the Americans. It has been regarded as “the corner stone” of English history. The Great Charter was the first step of constitutional experiment and rule of law. It laid down the basic rules for the English and American legal system. It contained provisions that protected life and property.伊丽莎白一世One of the greatest monarchs in Britain history. She reigned England Wales and Ireland for 45 years and remained single. Her reign was a time of confident English nationalism and of great achievement in literature and other arts, in exploration and in battle.综合学校Comprehensive schoolThe comprehensive secondary school system requires children to start receiving school education at age of 5. After six years of study at primary schools, they are eleven years old; however, the “eleven plus”is no longer required. All of them are entitled to go to the secondary comprehensive schools.①90%; ②admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education, teaching students everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking) ; Common lawSince there was no written law to tell the circuit judges how to deal with each case and punish offenders, the judges had to make decisions by relying on English traditions and customs, which varied not only from shire to shire but from one community to another.The circuit judge would have to bring the different local customs and traditions together when they are going to make a decision. After circuit judges applied them to court decisions, local customs became common to all.A written law gathered from numerous decisions of the courts and other sources.圈地运动的利与弊Enclosure ActsAgricultural enclosure had good as well as bad result. It consolidated small fields into large farms, which paved the way for scientific large-scale production, increasing the supply of agricultural products. This made it possible for Britain to develop industry enlarge its urban population, but the enclosure was a disaster for the tenants who were driven off their lands. These displaced peasants were forced to look for a living in towns even though many of them lacked the skills needed for industrial production.英国工业革命的过程(1)1733, flying shuttle, John Kay, speeded up hand weaving;(2)1766, spinning jenny, James Hardgrave’s, enabled one hand laborer to spin threads at a time;(3)Richard Arkwright’s water frame in 1769;(4)power-driven machinery, real “revolution” in textiles;(5) Samuel Crompton’s mule in 1779;(6) Edmund Cartwright’s power looms in 1784;(7)James Watt’s steam engine in 1765.影响（1）Britain was by 1830 the “workshop of the world”;（2）Towns grew rapidly and became the source of the nation’s wealth.（3）Mechanization destroyed the livelihood of those who could not invest in it . The working men worked and lived in a appalling conditions.（4）The industrial revolution created the industrial working class, the proletariat, and it later led to trade unionism.议会的主要功能①To pass laws;②To provide the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation;③To examine government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure;④To debate the major issues of the day.英国内战如何爆发、结果影响如何Charles 1, also believed “the Divine Right of kings”. A doctrine that the king derives his authority from God, not the people. His prerogative rights should not be challenged by anyone. It encouraged confrontation with Parliament, whose members had become increasingly Puritan in sympathy. He managed to rule England for 11 years without Parliament. But in 1640, Charles needed money and feared the invasion of the Scots and had to call the Long Parliament. Then a whole series of measures were introduced by the Parliament limiting the authority of the Crown while increasing its own.Thus, by 1642, the king and the commons were at each other’s throats, war was inevitable. In 1642, the first Civil War broke out.By autumn 1646, Parliament held most of England and next year Charles was captured but escaped. He made a deal with the Scots who invaded England but were defeated by Cromwell. Thus was the beginning of the Second Civil War.In November 1648, the king was captured again and condemned to death.结果影响The English Civil Wars have been seen a conflict between Parliament and the king, but also as a conflict between the economic interests of the urban middle classes and the traditional economic interests of the Crown.The English Civil Wars not only overthrew feudal system in England but also shook the foundation of the feudal rule in Europe. It is generally regarded as the beginning of modern world history.美国教育特征①Formal education in the United States consists of elementary, secondary and higher education.②Public education is free and compulsory.③Diversity is considered to be an outstanding characteristic of American education.④Education is a function of the states, not the federal government.。