英美概况 复习资料

the gun of Lexington:in April of 1775,some Britsh troops wre sent to Lexington and Concord,to disarm the American militiamen there.It was here in Lxington that shot in the American War of Independence was fired.The sound of that shot aroused the colonists, and within a few days,20000 militiamen had gathered outside Boston.

Mercartilism:an economic policy prevailing in western countries from about 1550 to 1750.Inits broadest meaning,mercantilism is a governmental intervention to promote national prosperity and increase the economic and political power of the state.Its central theory held that the strength of a nation is based on the amounts of gold and silver it has,that country needs a favorable balance of trade,and that colonies exist for the good of the mother country as a source of raw materials and a market manufactured goods.

the National Recovery Act:In industry Roosvelt,by the Natinal Recovery Act of 1933,was given power to control working hours and working conditions, and to fix minimum wages.Furthermore,through the Natinal Rcovery Act a vast scheme of public works was begun and four million men were immediately set to work on projects of clearance and construction.

Great Lakes:the five lakes between Canada and the US.They are Lake Superior,Lake Michigan,Lake Huron,Lake Erie,Lake Ontario.

International Labor Day:The growth of monopoly capital in the US was accompanied by a rising working-class movement.The Pennsylvania railway workers’ strike of 1877 was the first large-scale workers’ struggle in the US history.On May 1,1886 a national strike occurred in support of the eight-hour workday.News spread out,workers of whole country and of some other countries expressed their support.The meeting adopted a resolution designating May 1 as International Labor Day to be observed by the workers of all countries. The declaration:On July 4.1776.the Declaration of Independence was signed by the representatives from all the colonies.The Declaration was issued:(1)the Preamble, which explains why the Declaration was issued;(2)a statement of principles of government to which the American people were committed;(3)a list of injustices suffered by the colonists;(4)a summary of efforts the colonies had made to avoid a break with the mother country;and(5)the proclamation that

t he ’’Colonies are Free and Independent States.’’

what was the Bill of Rights?In 1791 the first ten amendments to the Constitution,the Bill of Rights,were approved by three-fourths of the states,so it was adopted.The Bill of Rights guaranteed freedom of the speech,religion,peaceful assembly, and the press;the right to bear arms;freedom from unreasonable search;and the right to the protection of certain legal procedures known as the due process of law. what were the basic causes of civil war.During the 19th century,two different social-economic systems existed side by side in the US.In the South slavery was the foundation of the economic system while in the North industry and commerce were the main the character of its economy.The swiftly growing industries in and North required the restriction of slavery as well as an expanding territory in order to provide capitalist production with raw materials,markets and an abundant labor supply.The slave economy in the South was an obstacle to industrial growth and expansion.This economic antagonism led to increased conflicts between the North and the South.

what was the importance of the Monroe Doctrine.In 1823,James Monroe came up with the Monroe Doctrine.The essence of the Doctrine was ’’America for Americans’’.which l ater became a cornerstone of the US foreign policy.As the New World developed in the years ahead this Doctrine became more meaningful and was strengthened by a broader interpretation to meet the the needs pf an energetic and ambitious US.

how do you comment on thr American Civil War.In April 1865,the war ended with the surrender of the Confederate commander,Robert E.Lee.The Civil War lasted fully four years.Over 600,000 people died,and 400,000 were wounded.The outcome of the war placed the northern capitalists in solid control of the federal government.It swept away the last obstacle to the development of US capitalism.In1865,the Thirteenth Amendment to US Constitution was adopted,which freed all slaves throughout the US.

What were the basic ideas of the New Deal? How do you comment on the New Deal?(1).The sum total of Roosevelt’s measures to end the depression was called the New Deal.The main aims were to raise commobity prices by limiting production, devaluing the dollar, maintaining high tariffs on foreign goods, and to carry through a modest inflation by providing money at low rates of interest to farmers and to industry.For farmers,the Agricultural Adjustment Act was passed in 1933,which enabled the government,among other things,to pay grants to farmers to induce them to reduce the amount of products,which included such commodities.(2).By 1938 the New Deal was over with the expomsion of the European crisis.Roosevelt had to switch his emphasis from domestic to foreign affairs.Nevertheless,the basic ideas behind the New Deal.that the federal government has the prome responsibility for the walfare of the people and must nit be limited by narrow concepts of states’ rights,that bold experimentation is the way to find solutions to new social problems, and that active presidebtial leadship of Congress and the people is vital in a world of growing complexity,have not been challenged strongly in the years since 1938.