the bill of rights of 1689名词解释

英美权利法案The Bill of Rights，即《权利法案》，又译《人权法案》，指的是美国宪法中第一至第十条宪法修正案，由詹姆斯·麦迪逊起草，1791年12月15日，获得通过。

权利法案的10条修正案包括：第一条：言论、宗教、和平集会自由；第二条：持有与佩戴武器的权利；第三条：免于民房被军队征用；第四条：免于不合理的搜查与扣押；第五条：正当程序（Due Process）、一罪不能两判、禁止逼供、禁止剥夺私人财产；第六条：未经陪审团不可定罪以及剥夺被控告方的其他权利；第七条：民事案件中要求陪审团的权利；第八条：禁止过度罚金与酷刑；第九条：未被列入的其他权利同样可以受到保护；第十条：人民保留未经立法的权利。

影响与评价《权利法案》的第一条，即美国宪法第一修正案对美国影响巨大。

美国媒体所享有的一切自由都源于此，在美国，凡是涉及言论、新闻、出版等诉讼，往往都会搬出此，它几乎成为美国媒体或个人言论自由的护身符，不可动摇。

以至于美国人把它颂扬为“美国生活方式”的主要内容。

[1]但是《权利法案》没有修正宪法的一个重大缺陷，即对奴隶制的确认，这使后来的南方地区农奴制扩张大大增长。

[2] 第一条（Amendment I）Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.译文：国会不得制定关于下列事项的法律：确立国教或禁止信教自由；剥夺言论自由或出版自由；或剥夺人民和平集会和向政府请愿伸冤的权利。

英语国家概况名词解释系列（1）Amerigo V espucci----Amerigo V espucci, a navigator, proved that the land was not India,but a new continent. Therefore, the land was named America after.The Puritans----The Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. They wanted to purify the Church of England and threatened with religious persecution, the Puritans leaders saw the New world as the a refuge provided by God for those He meant to save.英语国家概况名词解释系列（2）The Bill of Rights----In 1789, James Madison introduced in the House of Representatives a series of amendments which later were drafted into twelve proposed amendments and sent to the states for ratification. Ten of them were ratified in 1791 and the first ten amendments to the constitution were called the Bills of Rights because they were to insure individual liberties.The Emancipation Proclamation----After the Civil war began, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to win more support at home and abroad. It granted freedom to all slaves in areas still controlled by the Confederacy.英语国家概况名词解释系列（3）Pilgrims Thanksgiving Day----The Pilgrims in 1620, 201 of them sailed to the New World in a ship called Mayflower. The first winter after their arrival was very cold and when spring came, half of them were dead. Then the Indians came to their help and taught them how to grow corn. They had a good harvest that year. So they invited the Indians and held the first Thanksgiving celebration in America to give thanks to God.The Chunnel----In 1985 the British government and French government decided to build a channel tunnel, which is called “Chunnel”, under the Straits of Dover so that England and France could be joined together by road. The Chunnel was open to traffic in May 1994.英语国家概况名词解释系列（4）Eisteddfod----Eisteddfod is the Welsh word for “sitting” National Eidteddfod is the most famous festival of music and verse in Wales. It takes place each August and lasts for about a week. The highlight of the festival is competition for the best epic poem about Wales written and read in Welsh. The winner is crowned Board, considered the supreme honour in Wales. In this way the Welsh people keep the Welsh language and culture alive.Cockney----A cockney is a Londoner who is born within the sound of Bow Bells-the Bells of the church of St. Mary-LeBow in east London.英语国家概况名词解释系列（5）Stonehenge----It is a group of huge monuments of grant rock Slabs on salisbury plain in Southwest England built as long ago as the New Stone Age. It is generally believed that stonehenge served some sort of religious purposes.The Celts----The Celts came to Britain in three main waves. The first wave were the Gales, the second wave were the Brythons and the Belgae came about 150BC. The Celts were practised farmers. The Celtic tribes are ancestors of the Highland Scots, the Irish and the Welsh, And their languages are the basis of both Welsh and Gaelic. They religion was Druidism.英语国家概况名词解释系列（6）Norman Conquest----The Norman Conquest of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history. William the conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his Norman followers. He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government. So the feudal system was completely established in England.Alfred the Great----He was king of Wessex, one of the seven Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms. It was he who led the Anglo-Saxon to flight against the invading Danes and maintained peace for a long time.Alfred was not only a brave king at wartime, but also a wise king at peacetime. He encouraged education and introduced a legal system. He is known as “the father of the British navy”.英语国家概况名词解释系列（7）St. Augustine----In 597,Pope Gregory I sent St. Augustine, the Prior of St. Andrew’s Monastery in Rome, to England to convert the heathen English to Christianity. That year, St. Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Augustine was remarkably successful in converting the king and the nobility, but the conversion of the common people was largely due to the missionary activities of the monks in the north.Domesday Book----It is a book compiled by a group of clerks under the sponsorship of King William the First in 1086. The book was in fact a property record. It was the result of a general survey of England. It recorded the extent, value, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full feudal system in England. Today, it is kept in the Public Records Office in London.英语国家概况名词解释系列（8）Geoffrey Chaucer----He was an important English poet in the fourteenth century. His best known is The Canterbury Tales, which describes a group of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury to visit Thomas Becket’s tomb. Because he was the first important English poet to write in English. He has been known as the “Father of English Poetry”.The Black Death----It is a modern name given to the dearly bubonic plague, an epidemic disease spread through Europe in the fourteenth century particularly in 1348-1349. It came without warning, and without any cue. In England, it killed almost half of the total population, causing far-reaching economic consequences.英语国家概况名词解释系列（9）The Wars of Roses玫瑰战争----the name Wars of the Roses was refer to the battles between the House of Lancaster, symbolized by the read rose, and that of Y ork, symbolized by the white, from 1455 to 1485. Henry Tudor, descendant of Duke of Lancaster won victory at Bosworth Fireld in 1485 and put ht country under the rule of the Tudors. From these Wars, English feudalism received its death blow. The great medieval nobility was much weakened.The Glorious Revolution of 1688光荣革命---- In 1685 Charles II died and was succeeded by his brother James II. James was brought up in exile in Europe, was a Catholic. He hoped to rule without giving up his personal religious vies. But England was no more tolerant of a Catholic king in 1688 than 40 years ago. So the English politicians rejected James II, and appealed to a Protestant king, William of Orange, to invade and take the English throne. William landed in England in 1688. The takeover was relatively smooth, with no bloodshed, nor any execution of the king. This was known as the Glorious Revolution.英语国家概况名词解释系列（10）The Gunpowder Plot of 1605火药阴谋案----The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was the most famous of the Catholic conspiracies. On Nov. 5,1605, a few fanatical Catholics attempted to blow King James and his ministers up in the House of Parliament where Guy Fawkes had planted barrels of gun-powder in the cellars. The immediate result was the execution of Fawkes and his fellow-conspirators and imposition of severe anti-Catholic laws. The long-term result has been an annual celebration on Nov. 5, when a bonfire is lit to turn a guy and a firework display is arranged. Blood Mary血腥玛丽----It is the nickname given to Mary I, the English Queen who succeeded to the throne after Henry VIII. She was a devout Catholic and had so many Protestants burnt to death that she is remembered less by her official title Mary I by her nickname Blood Mary.英语国家概况名词解释系列（11）Thatcherism撒切尔主义----The election of 1979 returned the Conservative Party to power and Margaret Thatcher became the first woman prime minister in Britain. Her policies are popularly referred to as state-owned industries, the use of monetarist policies to control inflation, the weaking of trade forces unions, the strengthening of the role of market forces in the economy, and an emphasis on law and order.The Trade Union Act of 1871工会法----It legalized the trade unions and give financial security. It meant that in law there was no difference between money for benefic purposes and collecting it to support strike action.英语国家概况名词解释系列（12）Agribusiness农业产业----The new farming has been called “agribusiness”, because it is equipped and managed like an industrial business with a set of inputs into the processes which occur on the farm and outputs or products which leave the farm.British disease英国病----The term “British disease” is now often used to characterize Britain’s economic decline.英语国家概况名词解释系列（13）Constitutional monarchy君主立宪制----It is a political system that has been practised in Britain since the Glorious revolution of 1688. According to this system, the Constitution is superior to the Monarch. In law, the Monarch has many supreme powers, but in practice, the real power of monarchy has been greatly reduced and today the Queen acts solely on the advice of her ministers. She reigns but does not rule. The real power lies in the Parliament, or to be exact, in the House of Commons.Privy Council枢密院----A consultative body of the British monarch. Its origin can be traced back to the times of the Norman Kings. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, its importance was gradually diminished and replaced by the Cabinet. Today, it is still a consultation body of the British monarch, Its membership is about 400, and includes al Cabinet ministers, the speaker of the House of Commons, the Archbishops of Canterbury and Y ork, and senior British and Commonwealth statesmen.英语国家概况名词解释系列（14）The National Health Service----It is a very important part of the welfare system in Britain. It is a nationwide organization based on Acts of Parliament. It provides all kinds of free or nearly free medical treatment both in hospital and outside. It is financed mainly by payments by the state out of general taxation. People are not obliged to use this service. The service is achieving its main objectives with outstanding success.Comprehensive schools----Comprehensives schools take pupils without reference to ability or aptitude and provide a wide-ranging secondary education for all or most of the children in a district.英语国家概况名词解释系列（15）Reuters----It was founded in 1851 by the German, Julius Reuter. It is now a publicly owned company, employing over 11000 staff in 80 countries. It has more than 1300 staff journalists and photographers.The Crown Court----A criminal court that deals with the more serious cases and holds sessions in towns throughout England and Wales. It is presided over either by a judge from the High Court of Justice or a local full-time judge.英语国家概况名词解释系列（16）The Great lakes----The Great Lakes are the five lakes in the northeast. They are Lake Superior which is the largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Michigan (the only one entirely in the U.S.),Lake Huron, Lake Eire and Lake Ontario. They are all located between Canada and the United States expect Lake Michigan.The Mississippi----The Mississippi has been called “father of waters “or” old man river”. It and Its tributaries drain one of the richest farm areas in the world. It is the fourth longest river in the world and the most important river in the United States.英语国家概况名词解释系列（17）Uncle Tom’s Cabin----It was a sentimental but powerful antislavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It converted many readers to the abolitionist cause.Gettysburg----It refer to the short speech President Lincoln made when he dedicated the national cemetery at Gettyburg. He ended the speech with “the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.英语国家概况名词解释系列（18）The Red Scare----When the WWI was over, there existed a highly aggressive and intolerant nationalism. Between 1919 and 1920, the Red Scare happened. On Nov.7,1919 and Jan.2,1920, the Justice Department launched two waves of mass arrests. Over 4000 suspected Communists and radical were arrested.The New Deal----In order to deal with the Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt put forward the New Deal program. It passed a lot of New Deal laws and set up many efficient social security systems. The New Deal helped to save American democracy and the development of American economy.英语国家概况名词解释系列（19）Truman Doctrine----On Mar.12, 1949, President Truman put forward the Truman Doctrine in his speech to the joint session of Congress. The Doctrine meant to support any country which said it was fighting communism.Marshall Plan----It was announced by George Marshall on June.5, 1947, and was the economic aid plan for Western Europe. It was also used to prevent the loss of Western Europe into the Soviet sphere.英语国家概况名词解释系列（20）London smog----In 195, the sulphur dioxide in the four-day London smog, an unhealthy atmosphere formed by mixing smoke and dirt with fog. It left 4000 people dead or dying. Since then most cities in Britain have introduced “clean air zones” whereby factories and households are only allowed to burn smokeless fuel.Family Doctor----In order to obtain the benefits of the NHS a person must normally be registered on the list of a general practitioner, sometimes known as a “family doctor”. The family doctor gives treatment or prescribes medicine, or, if necessary, arranges for the patient to go to hospital or to be seen at home by a specialist.英语国家概况名词解释系列（21）Marvellous Melbourne----After the gold rush in 1850s and 1860s, there was an important revolution in transport, especially with the network of tram and railway systems. This changed the pace of urban life and the appearance of the city and soon people were calling the city “Marvellous Melbourne”. But by the 1890s outsiders were calling the city “Marvellous Melbourne” because of the bad smell of the city.Waitangi Day----In 1840 the first official governor, William Hobson, was sent to negotiate with Maori leaders. In 1840 Hobson, representing Queen Victoria, and some Maori chiefs, signed the Treaty of Waitangi. Modern New Zealand was founded. The anniversary of the signing, February 6, is celebrated as New Zealand National Day, Waitangi Day, and is a national holiday.英语国家概况名词解释系列（22）Multiculturalism----The term multiculturalism was coined in Canada in the late 1960s. It was in official use in Australia by 1973. In other words, under multiculturalism migrant groups are able to speak their own language and maintain their own customs. Multiculturalism as a policy recognizes that social cohesion is attained by tolerating differences within an agreed legal and constitutional framework.Quiet Revolution----Ever since 1763, when France lost its empire in North America to England, French Canadians have struggled to preserve their language and culture. In the early 1960s French Canadians became more vocal in their protests. In particular, they complained that were kept out of jobs in government and in some large businesses because they spoke only French. They have been struggling more rights common which was called “Quiet revolution”.英美概况（名词解释+简答+论述）1. The W atergate ScandalThe Watergate Scandal refers to the arrest of people breaking into Democratic National Committee offices who worked for the re-election of Nixon and the cover-up afterwards with the support of Nixon. It led to the resignation of Nixon.2. The British CommonwealthThe Commonwealth (of Nations) is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements. The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member of the Commonwealth is left to each nation.3. The White Australia PolicyThe White Australia Policy refers to the Immigration restriction Act of 1901. Under the White Australia Policy, only white Europeans, especially British and Irish, were allowed to migrate to Australia. The migration of colored people such as Asians was restricted.4. Checks and BalancesIn American political system, each of the three branches of the government--the legislative, the executive and the judicial--has part of the powers but not all the power. Each branch can check, or block, the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. This is called" checks and balances".5. Federal SystemA federal system of government has two layers of rule: central or federal government for the whole country; state and local governments. Each layer of government has separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitution.6. Comprehensive High SchoolIt is a school that provides students with both academic and vocational education.7. Research UniversitySuch a university offers a full range of programs leading to a BA degree and is committed to postgraduate education through the doctorate. It gives high priority to research and award doctoral degrees.8. MonopolyMonopoly, economic situation in which only a single seller or producer supplies a commodity or a service. One or more of the following elements are of great importance in establishing a monopoly: (1) control of a major resource necessary to produce a product, as was the case withbauxite in the pre-World War II aluminum industry; (2) technological capabilities that allow a single firm to produce at reasonable prices all the output of a particular commodity or service, a situation sometimes described as a "natural" monopoly; (3) exclusive control over a patent on a product or on the processes used to produce the product; and (4) a government franchise that awards a company the sole right to produce a commodity or service in a given area. Among the various kinds of economic monopolies are public utilities, trusts, cartels, and industrial mergers.9. Big BenBig Ben is the largest clock in Britain and has kept exact time for the nation since May 1859. It is famous the world over for being the giant four faced clock in London, England. Big Ben is the name of the giant 14-tonne bell that hangs inside the clock tower and chimes every hour of every day in England. The huge bell was hung in 1858 and named after Sir Benjamin Hall, Chief Commissioner of Works at the time the bell was hung. In England you can hear Big Ben chiming daily the nation over, either on television news or radio.10. Independent schoolsIndependent schools are fee-paying educational institutions. Independent schools usually provide pupils with two stages of education. The principal schools for children of over thirteen (13 ~ 18) are usually called public schools and those for younger pupils (8 ~ 13) are usually called preparatory (colloquially "prep") schools. Many such schools are long established and have gaineda reputation for their high standards. However, only about 6% of all children attend these schools.11. RedbrickRedbrick is the name for a group of universities founded between 1850 and 1930, including London University. They were so called because red brick was the favorite building material of the time. As the term red brick" already fell into disfavor, they are sometimes called middle-aged universities. Most of these higher education institutions were founded in the biggest industrial towns and in a few other centers. Their first purpose was to provide higher education for local inhabitants who could not afford the cost of going away from home for their studies. As these universities grew bigger and more solidly established, all of them have achieved independent status.12. The new universitiesThe new universities were all founded after the Second World War. Most of these are in the biggest cities where are already established universities. Although these universities were new, some of them quickly became popular because of their modem approach to university courses.13. The Open UniversityThe Open University is a recent innovation, which provides chances for people of all ages and to which entry is much less restricted. It was founded in 1969 and began its first course in 1971. This educational institution is so named because it is "open" to all to become students with no formal qualifications to study for a degree. Courses are followed in the students' sp are time; lectures are broad-cast on radio and TV, and students correspond with their tutors by post. For some of the Open University courses students have to attend one-week summer schools which are held in many of Britain's traditional universities. At the end of the course, successful students are awarded a university degree.14.The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister is the chief executive of the government. He or she is the leader of the party that holds the most seats in the House of Commons. The prime minister presides over the Cabinet and selects the other Cabinet members, who join him or her to form the government that is part of the functioning executive. When legislation comes before the House of Commons, the prime minister can usually count on the support of a majority of the votes because his or her party has amajority of the seats. The prime minister serves as the first lord of the treasury and as minister for the civil service.15. Statue of Liberty1. Liberty Enlightening the World, commonly known as the Statue of Liberty2. Presented to the United States by the people of France on October 28, 1886.3. Commemorating the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence4. A gesture of friendship from France to the United States5. Standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans.16. Ivy League1. The eight private institutions of higher education located in the Northeastern United States.2. The top in the U.S. college and university rankings and ranking within the top one percent of the world’s academic institutions3. Harvard University; Yale University; University of Pennsylvania; Princeton University; Columbia University; Brown University; Dartmouth College;Cornell University17. The Bill of Rights1. US Constitution has a total of 27 amendments. The first ten, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously (1791)2. Spirit of the Bill of Rights: freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition and freedom of religion3. Protection of individual rights instead of the privileges of the government4. Considered as the original body of the Constitution1. Which system was completely established under William in English?The feudal system was completely established under William in English.2. What is the most central functions of the Congress in America?It is the passage of laws.3 .Which city is Canada's largest city?It is Toronto.4. What was Australia called in the 1950s?Australia was called "the lucky country" in the 1950s.5. What do you think is the most noticeable feature of New Zealand geography?It is its mountains widely spread all over the country where active volcanoes scatter.6. Why was Britain known as the factory of the world in the mid-19th century?Because the British economy was among the strongest in the world.(or) At that time many goods were made in Britain and then sold all over the world.7. What are the established churches in Britain?They are the Church of England in England, and the Church of Scotland in Scotland.8. What does the British Parliament consist of?The British Parliament consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lord s and the House of Commons.9. What does W ASP stand for?It stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.10. When did the history of Australia begin?It began with the arrival of Aborigines between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago.11. What law made French the official language in Quebec?The “Charter of the French Language in Quebec” made French the official language in Quebec.1. How does the British climate influence characters of English people?Other countries have a climate; in England we have weather. This statement, often made by Englishmen to describe the peculiar meteorological conditions of their country, is both revealing and true. It is revealing because in it we see the Englishman insisting once again that what happens in England is not the same as what happens elsewhere.In no country other than England, can one experience four seasons in the course of a single day! In England one can experience almost every kind of weather except the most extreme. The snag is that we never can be sure when the different types of weather will occur. This uncertainty about the weather has had a definite effect upon the Englishman's character; it tends to make him cautious. The foreigner may laugh when he sees the Englishman setting forth on a brilliantly sunny morning wearing a raincoat and carrying an umbrella, but he may well regret his laughter later in the day! The English weather has also helped to make the Englishman adaptable. It has been said that one of the reasons why the English colonized so much of the world was that, whatever the weather conditions they met abroad, they had already experienced something like them at home!2. Introduce the 3 main certificates required for secondary schooling students.For secondary schooling students, at least one of the three main certificates is required to demonstrate their educational attainment. Moderately children take the Certificates of Secondary Education (CSE), which indicates satisfactory completion of schooling to the age of 16. More ambitious children take the examinations for the General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level (GCE "0" Level), which is the required starting-point for many types of professional training. Most young pupils who stay at school after passing their Ordinary Level examinations prepare themselves for the General Certificate of Education at Advanced Level (GCE "A" Level), which is the standard for entrance to universities and other higher education.3. What’s your idea about the diversity of US population？A. US is a melting potB. Racial and ethnic groupsC. Religious differencesD. Language diversityE. Social classes4. What’s your idea about the power-sharing and power-checking policy of US government?A. three branches of the federal governmentB. power sharing systemC. power checking policyD. foundation of the US politics5. Give comments on relationship between UK and USA.The British foreign policy is also affected by its relationship with the United States. During World War II, the two countries were closely allied and continued to work together closely in the postwar years, because they had many things in common about the past and the world situation. Even today, British and American policy-makers share the general ideas in many respects. However,Britain’s “special relationship” with the United States has gone through many ups and downs. The Britain are beginning to realize that their own foreign policy actions can be limited by the United States. But both sides have worked hard to maint ain the “special relationship”.6. What powers does the Queen of Britain have theoretically? Why is it said that she has no real power at all in reality?The British monarchy stands for the continuity of British history going back to Anglo-Saxon times, and today it serves as a figurehead for the state In theory, the British monarch has enormous powers, but in reality those powers are limited and the Crown follows the dictates and advice of the ministers in Parliament.As the official head of state, the monarch formally summons and dismisses Parliament and the ministers of the Cabinet. The monarch also serves as head of the judiciary, commander in chief of the armed forces, and Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. In reality, the government carries out the duties associated with these functions. Theoretically, the monarch appoints all judges, military officers, diplomats, and archbishops, as well as other church officers. The monarch also bestows honors and awards, such as knighthoods and peerages. In reality, all of these appointments are made upon the advice of the prime minister. The prime minister declares war and peace and concludes treaties with foreign states in the name of the Crown. The monarch serves as the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth of Nations and is the ceremonial head of state for 16 Commonwealth countries.7. What are the characteristics of the two major parties in the United States today? Tell briefly the history of the two-party system in the United States .There have been four periods in the history of the two-party system in the United States. In the last years of the 18th century, the debate over the ratification of the Constitution gave rise to the beginnings of the first two major parties. They were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. After the adoption of the constitution with the Bill of Rights, the Anti-federalists began to call themselves Democratic-Republicans. The Federalists gradually disintegrated. After the 1828 election of Andrew Jackson, the Democratic-Republican Party split. The main faction led by Jackson was called the Democratic Party. The faction opposed to Jackson was called the Whig Party which formed in 1834. As the struggle over slavery intensified, the majority of the Whig Party, part of the democrats, and other anti-slavery elements formed the Republican Party in 1854. From 1860s to 1920s, the Republican Party dominated the political scene. The Four period began with Franklin Roosevelt’s coming iron power and casted till the 1980s. During this period, the Democratic Party was dominant, with short interruptions. The two major parties are really not very different today. But this does not mean there is no difference between them. On economic issues, the Democrats traditionally favor government intervention while the Republicans stress the role of the market more. On social issues the Democrats support a strong social security system while the Republicans oppose large governmental social security programs. In spite of these differences, the two parties both believe in individualism, defending capitalism and uphold private ownership of means of production.8. What were the consequences of the Norman Conquest?The Norman Conquest of 1066 is perhaps the best-known event in English history. (1 point) William the Conqueror confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his Norman followers. (1 point) He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government. So the feudal system was completely established in England. (2 points) Relations with the Continent were opened, and civilization and commerce were extended, (2 points) Norman-French culture, language, manners,。

1.William the Conqueror 威廉征服: William was Duke of Normandy. He landed his army in and defeated king Harold. Then he was crowned king of England on Christmas Day the same year. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.建立了封建制度2.Doomsday Book----It is a book compiled by a group of clerks under the sponsorship of King William the First in 1086. The book was in fact a property record. It was the result of a general survey of England. It recorded the extent, value, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It was one of the important measures adopted by William I to establish the full feudal system in England. Today, it is kept in the Public Records Office in London. 为了可靠地记录所有的土地、佃户和他们的财产并查明他们能交多少税,威廉派官员编了一本财产清册,称为末日审判书;因为对英国人来说,这本土地清册无疑就是最后审判日那天众王之王所用的末日书;此册完成于1086 年,它记录了1085 年作的英国全国总调查的结果;此册陈述了土地的范围、价值、人口、耕种情况和所有权;现在末日审判书保存在伦敦的公共档案馆里;从此册可以看出,在1086年,农村约有一半的耕地掌握在10 个承租人贵族手里,其中只有两个是英国贵族,约五分之一土地归国王本人所有;其余大多数属于主教、修道院院长和其他修道院头领3.the Black Death----It is a modern name given to the dearly bubonic plague, an epidemic disease spread through Europe in the fourteenth century particularly in 1348-1349. It came without warning, and without any cue. In England, it killed almost half of the total population, causing far-reaching economic consequences. 黑死病是现代名称,指的是由鼠身上的跳蚤传播的致命的淋巴腺鼠疫引起的传染疾病;14 世纪传播到欧洲,尤其是在1347 - 1350 年;1348 年夏天横扫全英国,事先毫无征兆;但重要的是无药可救;不论贫富不放过任何人,死亡迅速而痛苦;它夺去了二分之一到一半的英国人的生命,加上随后50 年中发生的流行病,英国的人口在14 世纪末从400 万税减至200 万;4.The Wars of Roses玫瑰战争----the name Wars of the Roses was refer to the battles between the House of Lancaster, symbolized by the read rose, and that of York, symbolized by the white, from 1455 to 1485. Henry Tudor, descendant of Duke of Lancaster won victory at Bosworth Fireld in 1485 and put ht country under the rule of the Tudors. From these Wars, English feudalism received its death blow. The great medieval nobility was much weakened..是对外战争和国内不稳定导致贵族们之间冲突再起,却令人回想起13 世纪的麻烦;1455至1485 年间政局不稳定是两支金雀花家族争斗引起的,它们是兰开斯特家族和约克家族;实际上,玫瑰战争这个词是19 世纪的大作家瓦尔特司考特创造的,但它已被普遍接受,专指这两个家族间的战争;因·为红玫瑰代表兰开斯特家族,而白玫瑰则是约克家族的象征尽管玫瑰战争断断续续进行了三十年,但普通民众所受影响甚微,他们照常从事各自营生;封建制度却遭受了致命打击;不少于80 位皇族血统的贵族阵亡,中世纪的贵族势力被大大削弱,名誉扫地;至此国王的权力变得至高无上5.The Bill of Rights----In 1789, James Madison introduced in the House of Representatives a series of amendments which later were drafted into twelveproposed amendments and sent to the states for ratification. Ten of them were ratified in 1791 and the first ten amendments to the constitution were called the Bills of Rights because they were to insure individual 年詹姆斯麦迪逊在众议院提出了一系列的修正法案,后来这些法案被起草成十二条修正法案提交各州讨论;其·中有两条没被各州通过,其余十条在1791 年被通过,成为宪法的前十项修正案--人权法案;从那时起美国就完成了宪法体制的建立6.The British constitution: There is no written constitution in the United Kingdom, that is, unlike the constitutions of most other countries, the British constitution is not set out in any single document. It is made up of statute law, common law and conventions.英国议会制政府制度并不是基于成文宪法;联合王国没有成文宪法,也就是说与大多数他国宪法不同,英国宪法不由单一文件构成,而是由成文法、习惯法和惯例组成;惯例是指法律没有明文要求必须执行,但被视为政府工作中不可缺少的行为准则;司法部门裁定习惯法和解释成文法; 7.The Great lakes----The Great Lakes are the five lakes in the northeast. They are Lake Superior which is the largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Michigan the only one entirely in the ., Lake Huron, Lake Eire and Lake Ontario. They are all located between Canada and the United States expect Lake Michigan.美国最重要的湖泊就是五大湖;这五大湖包括：苏必利尔湖--世界上最大的淡水湖,密歇根湖唯一完全在美国境内的湖,休伦湖,伊利湖和安大略湖;除密歇根湖全部属美国外,其他均为美国和加拿大之间的界湖;8.The Emancipation Proclamation-解放宣言---After the Civil war began, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to win more support at home and abroad. It granted freedom to all slaves in areas still controlled by the Confederacy. 1863年1月1日,林肯总统发表了解放宣言,正是解放美国所有的奴隶;9.checks and balances: 制衡the United states has three separate branches of government: the of government: the legislative, executive ,andjudicial .Each branch has a portion of constitutional authority and can check or block the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. the three branches are thus in balance .this is a system of checks and balances美国政府的三个分支：在政府立法,执行,和司法;每个分支具有宪法权力的一部分,可以检查或其他部门的行为块;三个部门是平衡三个部门是平衡的;这是一个制衡制度;10.The Great Depression: It refers to the economic depression started from the New York stock market collapse on October24, that, thousands of banks and businesses failed. Many people lost their jobs, It was due to the New Deal started in 1933 and the defense buildup before and during World War II that the United States finally recovered from the Great Depression大萧条：它指的是在经济萧条的october241929纽约股票市场崩溃的开始;之后,银行和数千家企业失败;许多人失去了他们的工作,这是由于新政开始在1933之前和第二次世界大战期间,美国从大萧条中恢复的最后的国防建设11.Industrial revolution: The Industrial Revolution refers to the mechanization of industry and the consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Britain was the first country to industrialize工业革命：工业革命是指工业的机械化,并在第十八年末和第十九世纪初英国社会和经济组织的变化随之而来;英国成为第一个工业化的国家12.The New Deal-新政---In order to deal with the Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt put forward the New Deal program. It passed a lot of New Deal laws and set up many efficient social security systems. The New Deal helped to save American democracy and the development of American economy. "罗斯福确实马上开始行动;在进入白宫后的第一个100 天里,他使国会通过了许多法案,旨在阻止经济状况的进一步恶化,帮助需要帮助的人们正如罗斯福总统所说,这些措施的目的在于"拯救美国的民主";这些措施确实有助于克服当时资本13.Counterculture: 反主流文化Counterculture was a movement of revolt against the moral values, the aesthetic standards, the personal behavior and the social relations of conventional society. 反文化是对运动的道德价值观的反叛,审美标准,个人行为和社会关系的传统;14.Constitutional monarchy君主立宪制----It is a political system that has been practiced in Britain since the Glorious revolution of 1688. According to this system, the Constitution is superior to the Monarch. In law, the Monarch has many supreme powers, but in practice, the real power of monarchy has been greatly reduced and today the Queen acts solely on the advice of her ministers. She reigns but does not rule. The real power lies in the Parliament, or to be exact, in the House of Commons. 这是一个政治制度,已实行在英国1688的光荣革命以来;根据此制度,宪法是优越的君主;在法律上,君主具有最高权力,但在实践中,君主制的实力已大大减少,今天女王行为完全在她的部长的建议;她统治但不规则;真正的力量在于议会,或者更确切地说,在下议院;15.The hundred years war:英法百年战争The Hundred Years War was a series of wars between England and France.The background of the Hundred Years War went as far back as to the reign of William the Conqueror.When William the Conqueror became king in 1066 after his victory at the Battle of Hastings, he united England with Normandy in France.William ruled both as his own.。

权利法案（1689）（英文版）bill of rights1689an act declaring the rights and liberties of the subject and settling the succession of the crownwhereas the lords spiritual and temporal and commons assembled at westminster，lawfully，fully and freely representing all the estates of the people of this realm，did upon the thirteenth day of february in the year of our lord one thousand six hundred eighty-eight [old style date] present unto their majesties，then called and known by the names and style of william and mary，prince and princess of orange，being present in their proper persons，a certain declaration in writing made by the said lords and commons in the words following，viz.：whereas the late king james the second，by the assistance of divers evil counsellors，judges and ministers employed by him，did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the protestant religion and the laws and liberties of this kingdom；by assuming and exercising a power of dispensing with and suspending of laws and the execution of laws without consent of parliament；by committing and prosecuting divers worthy prelates for humbly petitioning to be excused from concurring to the said assumed power；by issuing and causing to be executed a commission under the great seal for erecting a court called the court of commissioners for ecclesiastical causes；by levying money for and to the use of the crown by pretence of prerogative forother time and in other manner than the same was granted by parliament；by raising and keeping a standing army within this kingdom in time of peace without consent of parliament，and quartering soldiers contrary to law；by causing several good subjects being protestants to be disarmed at the same time when papists were both armed and employed contrary to law；by violating the freedom of election of members to serve in parliament；by prosecutions in the court of kings bench for matters and causes cognizable only in parliament，and by divers other arbitrary and illegal courses；and whereas of late years partial corrupt and unqualified persons have been returned and served on juries in trials，and particularly divers jurors in trials for high treason which were not freeholders；and excessive bail hath been required of persons committed in criminal cases to elude the benefit of the laws made for the liberty of the subjects；and excessive fines have been imposed；and illegal and cruel punishments inflicted；and several grants and promises made of fines and forfeitures before any conviction or judgment against the persons upon whom the same were to be levied；all which are utterly and directly contrary to the known laws and statutes and freedom of this realm；and whereas the said late king james the second having abdicated the government and the throne being thereby vacant，his highness the prince oforange （whom it hath pleased almighty god to make the glorious instrument of delivering this kingdom from popery and arbitrary power）did （by the advice of the lords spiritual and temporal and divers principal persons of the commons）cause letters to be written to the lords spiritual and temporal being protestants，and other letters to the several counties，cities，universities，boroughs and cinque ports，for the choosing of such persons to represent them as were of right to be sent to parliament，to meet and sit at westminster upon the two and twentieth day of january in this year one thousand six hundred eighty and eight [old style date]，in order to such an establishment as that their religion，laws and liberties might not again be in danger of being subverted，upon which letters elections having been accordingly made；and thereupon the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons，pursuant to their respective letters and elections，being now assembled in a full and free representative of this nation，taking into their most serious consideration the best means for attaining the ends aforesaid，do in the first place （as their ancestors in like case have usuallydone）for the vindicating and asserting their ancient rights and liberties declare：that the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of parliament is illegal；that the pretended power of dispensing with laws or the execution of laws by regal authority，as it hath been assumed and exercised of late，is illegal；that the commission for erecting the late court of commissioners for ecclesiastical causes，and all other commissions and courts of like nature，are illegal and pernicious；that levying money for or to the use of the crown by pretence of prerogative，without grant of parliament，for longer time，or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted，is illegal；that it is the right of the subjects to petition the king，and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal；that the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace，unless it be with consent of parliament，is against law；that the subjects which are protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law；that election of members of parliament ought to be free；that the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of parliament；that excessive bail ought not to be required，nor excessive fines imposed，nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted；that jurors ought to be duly impanelled and returned，and jurors which pass upon men in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders；that all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void；and that for redress of all grievances，and for the amending，strengtheningand preserving of the laws，parliaments ought to be held frequently.and they do claim，demand and insist upon all and singular the premises as their undoubted rights and liberties，and that no declarations，judgments，doings or proceedings to the prejudice of the people in any of the said premises ought in any wise to be drawn hereafter into consequence or example；to which demand of their rights they are particularly encouraged by the declaration of his highness the prince oforange as being the only means for obtaining a full redress and remedy therein.having therefore an entire confidence that his said highness the prince of orange will perfect the deliverance so far advanced by him，and will still preserve them from the violation of their rights which they have here asserted，and from all other attempts upon their religion，rights and liberties，the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons assembled at westminster do resolve that william and mary，prince and princess of orange，be and be declared king and queen of england，france and ireland and the dominions thereunto belonging，to hold the crown and royal dignity of the said kingdoms and dominions to them，the said prince and princess，during their lives and the life of the survivor to them，and that the sole and full exercise of the regal power be only in and executed by the said prince of orange in the names of the said prince and princess during their joint lives，and after their deceases the said crown and royal dignity of the same kingdoms and dominions to be to the heirs of the body of the said princess，andfor default of such issue to the princess anne of denmark and the heirs of her body，and for default of such issue to the heirs of the body of the said prince of orange. and the lords spiritual and temporal and commons do pray the said prince and princess to accept the same accordingly.and that the oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all persons of whom the oaths have allegiance and supremacy might be required by law，instead of them；and that the said oaths of allegiance and supremacy be abrogated.i，a.b.，do sincerely promise and swear that i will be faithful and bear true allegiance to their majesties king william and queen mary. so help me god.i，a.b.，do swear that i do from my heart abhor，detest and abjure as impious and heretical this damnable doctrine and position，that princes excommunicated or deprived by the pope or any authority of the see of rome may be deposed or murdered by their subjects or any other whatsoever. and i do declare that no foreign prince，person，prelate，state or potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction，power，superiority，pre-eminence or authority，ecclesiastical or spiritual，within this realm. so help me god.upon which their said majesties did accept the crown and royal dignity of the kingdoms of england，france and ireland，and the dominions thereunto belonging，according to the resolution and desire of the said lords and commons contained in the said declaration.and thereupon their majesties were pleased that the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons，being the two houses of parliament，should continueto sit，and with their majesties royal concurrence make effectual provision for the settlement of the religion，laws and liberties of this kingdom，so that the same for the future might not be in danger again of being subverted，to which the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons did agree，and proceed to act accordingly.now in pursuance of the premises the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons in parliament assembled，for the ratifying，confirming and establishing the said declaration and the articles，clauses，matters and things therein contained by the force of law made in due form by authority of parliament，do pray that it may be declared and enacted that all and singular the rights and liberties asserted and claimed in the said declaration are the true，ancient and indubitable rights and liberties of the people of this kingdom，and so shall be esteemed，allowed，adjudged，deemed and taken to be；and that all and every the particulars aforesaid shall be firmly and strictly holden and observed as they are expressed in the said declaration，and all officers and ministers whatsoever shall serve their majesties and their successors according to the same in all time to come.and the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons，seriously considering how it hath pleased almighty god in his marvellous providence and merciful goodness to this nation to provide and preserve their said majesties royal persons most happily to reign over us upon the throne of their ancestors，for which they render unto him from the bottom of their hearts their humblest thanks and praises，do truly，firmly，assuredly and in the sincerity of their hearts think，and do hereby recognize，acknowledge and declare，that king james the second having abdicated the government，and their majesties having accepted the crown and royal dignity as aforesaid，their said majesties did become，were，are and of right ought to be by the laws of this realm our sovereign liege lord and lady，king and queen of england，france and ireland and the dominions thereunto belonging，in and to whose princely persons the royal state，crown and dignity of the said realms with all honours，styles，titles，regalities，prerogatives，powers，jurisdictions and authorities to the same belonging and appertaining are most fully，rightfully and entirely invested and incorporated，united and annexed. and for preventing all questions and divisions in this realm by reason of any pretended titles to the crown，and for preserving a certainty in the succession thereof，in and upon which the unity，peace，tranquility and safety of this nation doth under god wholly consist and depend，the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons do beseech their majesties that it may be enacted，established and declared，that the crown and regal government of the said kingdoms and dominions，with all and singular the premises thereunto belonging and appertaining，shall be and continue to their said majesties and the survivor of them during their lives and the life of the survivor of them，and that the entire，perfect and full exercise of the regal power and government be only in and executed by his majesty in the names of both their majesties during their joint lives；and after their deceases the said crown and premises shall be and remain tothe heirs of the body of her majesty，and for default of such issue to her royal highness the princess anne of denmark and the heirs of the body of his said majesty；and thereunto the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons do in the name of all the people aforesaid most humbly and faithfully submit themselves，their heirs and posterities for ever，and do faithfully promise that they will stand to，maintain and defend their said majesties，and also the limitation and succession of the crown herein specified and contained，to the utmost of their powers with their lives and estates against all persons whatsoever that shall attempt anything to the contrary.and whereas it hath been found by experience that it is inconsistent with the safety and welfare of this protestant kingdom to be governed by a popish prince，or by any king or queen marrying a papist，the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons do further pray that it may be enacted，that all and every person and persons that is，are or shall be reconciled to or shall hold communion with the see or church of rome，or shall profess the popish religion，or shall marry a papist，shall be excluded and be for ever incapable to inherit，possess or enjoy the crown and government of this realm and ireland and the dominions thereunto belonging or any part of the same，or to have，use or exercise any regal power，authority or jurisdiction within the same；and in all and every such case or cases the people of these realms shall be and are hereby absolved of their allegiance；and the said crown and government shall from time to time descend to and be enjoyed by such person or persons being protestants as should have inherited andenjoyed the same in case the said person or persons so reconciled，holding communion or professing or marrying as aforesaid were naturally dead；and that every king and queen of this realm who at any time hereafter shall come to and succeed in the imperial crown of this kingdom shall on the first day of the meeting of the first parliament next after his or her coming to the crown，sitting in his or her throne in the house of peers in the presence of the lords and commons therein assembled，or at his or her coronation before such person or persons who shall administer the coronation oath to him or her at the time of his or her taking the said oath （which shall first happen），make，subscribe and audibly repeat the declaration mentioned in the statute made in the thirtieth year of the reign of king charles the second entitled，_an act for the more effectual preserving the kings person and government by disabling papists from sitting in either house of parliament._ but if it shall happen that such king or queen upon his or her succession to the crown of this realm shall be under the age of twelve years，then every such king or queen shall make，subscribe and audibly repeat the same declaration at his or her coronation or the first day of the meeting of the first parliament as aforesaid which shall first happen after such king or queen shall have attained the said age of twelve years.all which their majesties are contented and pleased shall be declared，enacted and established by authority of this present parliament，and shall stand，remain and be the law of this realm for ever；and the same are by their said majesties，by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal andcommons in parliament assembled and by the authority of the same，declared，enacted and established accordingly.ii. and be it further declared and enacted by the authority aforesaid，that from and after this present session of parliament no dispensation by _non obstante_ of or to any statute or any part thereof shall be allowed，but that the same shall be held void and of no effect，except a dispensation be allowed of in such statute，and except in such cases as shall be specially provided for by one or more bill or bills to be passed during this present session of parliament.iii. provided that no charter or grant or pardon granted before the three and twentieth day of october in the year of our lord one thousand six hundredeighty-nine shall be any ways impeached or invalidated by this act，but that the same shall be and remain of the same force and effect in law and no other than as if this act had never been made.权利法案（1689）（中文版）权利法案（1689）国会两院经依法集会于西敏寺宫，为确保英国人民传统之权利与自由而制定本法律。

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▲2017年高考历史高频考点：英国《权利法案》《权利法案》（the Bill of Rights），全称《国民权利与自由和王位继承宣言》（An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of theCrown），是英国资产阶级革命中的重要法律性文件，但非宪法。

奠定了英国君主立宪政体的理论和法律基础，确立了议会所拥有的权力高于王权的原则，标志着君主立宪制开始在英国建立，为英国资本主义的迅速发展扫清了道路。

1701 年英国议会又通过了一部《王位继承法》，被看作是《权利法案》的补充，这两个法案确立了英国“议会至上”原则，是迈向君主立宪制度的重要一步，议会逐渐成为国家的最高权力机关。

《权利法案》是英国历史上自《大宪章》以来最重要的一部法案之一，英国的《权利法案》可以被认为是英国宪法的前身。

它改变了人类历史，对英国对世界都产生了巨大而深远的影响。

▲2017年高考历史高频考点：英国《权利法案》的目的限制国王的权力一方面限制英王的实际统治权，另一方面保障议会的立法权，财政权，司法权和军事权。

使议会在国家政权中的地位得到提高，议会高于王权的原则得以确立。

▲2017年高考历史高频考点：英国《权利法案》的意义1689 英国通过权利法案,用法律的条文,限制国王的权力,保证议会的立法权,财政等权力,代议制也由此确立.权利法案的颁布,使封建时代的君权神授遭到否定,君主权力由法律赋予,受到制约.议会权力很大.拥有立法权与重大决策权.英王几乎没有什么权力.统而不治.由此君主立宪制确立.1。

英美国家概括名词解释The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Unit 11.LondonLondon is the largest city located in the south of the country. It is dominant in Britain in all sorts of ways. It is the cultural and business center and the headquarters of the vast majority of Britain’s big companies. It is not only the financial center of the nation, but also one of the three major international financial centers in the world.2.Robin Hood罗宾汉，英国传说中的一位著名绿林好汉，在森林里盘踞，以劫富济贫杀贪官污吏为宗旨。

Robin Hood was a Saxon nobleman. As he could no longer put up with oppressions压迫from the Normans, he became an outlaw反叛者and hid himself with his band of “merry men” in the forest. From this secret place, he went out to rob from the rich to give the poor.3.Anglo-Saxons盎格鲁-撒克逊They were two groups of Germanic日耳曼peoples who settled down in England from the 5th century. They were regarded as the ancestors of the English and the founders of England.4.King Arthur 亚瑟国王，6世纪时英格兰统治者，圆桌骑士的领袖，有关他的传说很多。

美国篇A①Anglo-Saxons: They were two groups of Germanic peoples who settled down inEngland from the 5th century. They were regarded as the ancestors of the English and the founders of England.②The aerospace industry in the UK: The UK’s aerospace industry is thethird-largest in the world, producing the full range of aerospace products from civil and military aircrafts to missiles, satellites and jet engines. It produces 2% of the UK national output, accounting for 8% of manufactured export goods.③The Articles of Confederation: After the War of Independence was won, the newnation of the United States was organized under the agreement of the Articles of Confederation with a weak national government called the Congress. Each state had its own government, made its own laws and handled its internal affairs. The states did not cooperate with the Congress and with each other. The Congress hand no power to force any state to contribute money to the national government and the Congress could not tax any citizen either. As a result, the Articles of Confederation failed.B①The Bill of Rights of 1689: In 1688, King James Ⅱ’s daughter Mary and herhusband William were invited by the politicians and church authorities to take the throne, on condition that they would respect the rights of Parliament. The Bill of Rights was passed in 1689 to ensure that the King would never be able to ignore Parliament.C①The Constitution: Britain has no written Constitution. The foundations of the British state are laid out in statute law, which are laws passed by Parliament; the common laws, which are laws established through common practice in the courts; and conventions.②Class system in British society: The class system does exist in British society. Most of the British population would claim themselves to be either of middle class or working-class, though some people would actually belong to the upper middle-class or lower middle-class. Class divisions are not simply economic, they are cultural as well. People of different classes may differ in the kind of newspapers they read, in the way they speak and in the kind of education they receive. One of the distinctive features about the British class system is that aristocratic titles can still be inherited.③The City: refers to the historic area at the center of London. It is one of the biggest financial centers in the world with the greatest concentration of banks, insurance companies and businesses dealing in commodities. At the heart of the city is the London Stock Exchange.④Comprehensive schools: Comprehensive schools are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today. Such schools admit children without reference to their academic and provide a general education. Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking.⑤The Commonwealth: In the author’s opinion, the Commonwealth is a voluntary association of states which is made up mostly of former British colonies. There are50 members of the Commonwealth: many of these are developing countries like India and Cyprus; others are developed nations like Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The Commonwealth was set up as a forum for continued cooperation and as a sort of support network.E①The Easter Rising: In order to gain independence, different Irish groups hadbeen fighting against the British institutions and the British military forces.One such activity was the Easter Rising which took place in 1916. The rebels occupied Dublin’s Post Office and forced the British to take it back by military force. The leaders of the rebellion were executed by the British authorities.② The electoral campaigns: Before a general election, the political parties wouldstart their electoral campaigns in order to make their ideologies and policies known to the public. The campaign involves advertisements in newspapers, door-to-door campaigning, postal deliveries of leaflets and “party electoral broadcasts” on the television. The parties also try to attack and criticize the opponents’ policies. Therefore, these campaigns sometimes can be quite aggressive and critical.③Ethnic relations in the UK: The coming of immigrants groups from other partsof the world has greatly enriched British culture. But ethnic relations are also sometimes tense: the local people vies the newcomers as a threat to their way of living; and despite much official actions to minimize racism, both subtle and overt oppression remains. The immigrant population is not well-off economically. They face problems of unemployment, under-representation in politics and unfair treatment by police and by the justice system.④Elizabethan Drama: The general flowering of cultural and intellectual life inEurope during the 15th and 16th centuries is known as the Renaissance. In British culture, one of the most successful and long-lasting expressions of this development lay in drama. That was the period of the reign of Queen Elizabeth(1588-1603). The first professional theatre in London opened in 1576,and others followed, performing the plays of many notable playwrights, including Christopher Marlowe, Bend Jonson and William Shakespeare.F①The functions of Parliament: to pass laws, to vote for taxation, to scrutinizegovernment policy, administration and expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day.②The formation of the government: 651 members of parliament are elected in thegeneral election representing 651 constituencies in the UK. The party which holdsa majority of those “seats”in parliament forms the government, with its partyleader as the Prime Minister.③The foundation of British foreign policy: The contemporary foreign policy ofthe UK is greatly influenced by its imperial history and also by its geopolitical traits. As Britain lost its empire so recently, British policy-makers frequently forget that Britain is not as influential as it used to be in world affairs.Another decisive influence upon the way Britain handles its external affairs is geopolitical attitude to Europe.①The Good Friday Agreement: As a result of multi-party negotiations, The GoodFriday Agreement was approved on 10 April 1998. This agreement assures the loyalist community that Northern Ireland remains part of the United kingdom and it won’t change its political status unless the majority of the people of Northern Ireland agree. Under the terms of the agreement, Northern Ireland should be governed by 3 separate jurisdictions; that of the Republic of Ireland, that of Great Britain and that of its own elected executive government of 10 ministers.②Grammar schools: It is a type of secondary schools in Britain. Grammar schoolsselect children at the age of 11, through an exam called “the 11-plus”. Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools. These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and expect many of their pupils to go on to universities.H①Home Rule: Ireland had long been dominated by Britain, but Irish desire for anindependent Irish state was never lost.“Home Rule”refers to a campaign for Irish control of Irish affairs. The Home Rule Bill was finally passed in 1914, but the process was overtaken by the First World War and was suspended for the duration of the war.②The House of Lords: The House of Lords consists of the Lords Spiritual, who arethe Archbishops and most prominent bishops of the Church of England; and the Lords Temporal, which refers to those lords who either have inherited the seat from their forefathers or they have been appointed. The lords mainly represent themselves instead of the interests of the public.③The House of Commons: The House of Commons is the real center of British politicallife because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives (Members of Parliament) make and debate policy. These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.I①The importance of general elections: General elections are very important inwestern democracy. According to the author, they provide opportunities for people to influence future government policies and to replace those incompetent political leaders.② Independent schools: Independent schools are commonly called public schoolswhich are actually private schools that receive their funding through the private sector and tuition rates, with some government assistance. Independent schools are not part of national education system, but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools. These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.L①London: London is the largest city located in the south of the country. It isdominant in Britain in all sorts of ways. It is the cultural and business center and the headquarters of the vast majority of Britain’s big companies. It is not only the financial center of the nation, but also one of the three major international financial centers in the world.①Main sectors of the UK economy: The UK national economy can be divided into 3main areas: primary industries, such as agriculture, fishing and mining;secondary industries which manufacture complex goods from those primary product;and tertiary(or service) industries such as banking , insurance, tourism and the retailing.②Modernism: Modernism refers to a form of literature mainly written before WWⅡ. It is characterized by a high degree of experimentation. It can be seen asa reaction against the 19th century forms of Realism. Modernist writers expressthe difficulty they see in understanding and communicating how the world works.Often, Modernist writing seems disorganized, hard to understand. It often portrays the action from the viewpoint of a single confused individual, rather than from the viewpoint of an all-knowing impersonal narrator outside the action.One of the most famous English Modernist writers is Virginia Woolf.K①King Arthur: It is said that he was the King of England in the 5th century andunited the British and drove the Saxons back with his magical sword, Excalibur.His real existence is in doubt. He is the central figure of many legends.②King Harold: He was the Saxon Kong whose army was defeated in the Battle ofHastings in 1066, when William the Conqueror invaded England from France.③The King James Bible: King James Ⅰordered the translation of the Holy Scriptures,which came to be known as the King James Bible. It appeared in 1611.Althouth it was not the first English translation and there have been many translations since, the King James Version will probably never be matched for majesty of language. For many generations it has had a greater influence on style and standards of taste than any other single work in English literature.O①The Open University: The Open University was founded in Britain in the 1960’sfor people who might not get the opportunity for higher education for economic and social reasons. It’s open to everybody and does not demand the same formal educational qualifications as the other universities. University course are followed through TV, radio, correspondence, videos and a net work of study centers. At the end of their studies at the Open University, successful students areawarded a university degree.P①The Provisional IRA: In 1919, a group calling itself the IRA(Irish Republic Army)expanded fighting for Irish freedom and independence. The Provisional IRA is the radical faction of the IRA. They prefer the use of force and believe that armed force is the only way to get the British out and to have a unified Ireland.②Privatisation in the 1980s: The British economy went through a particularly bandperiod in the 1970s, with high rates of inflation and devaluation of the Pound.Therefore, in the 1980s, when the Conservative party under Margaret Thatcher was in power, an extensive programme of privatization was carried out. Many state-owned businesses (such as steel, telecom, gas aerospace)were turned into private companies. Privatisation was successful in controlling inflation but at the same time unemployment rate increased rapidly.①Quality papers: They belong to one the categories of the national dailies. Thequality papers carry more serious and in-depth articles of particular political and social importance. They also carry reviews, such as book reviews, and feature articles about high culture. These papers are also referred to as “the broadsheets”because they are printed on large-size paper. The readers of such newspapers are generally a well-educated middle class audience.R①Robin Hood: Robin Hood was a Saxon nobleman. As he could no longer put up withoppressions from the Normans, he became an outlaw and hid himself with his band of “merry men”in the forest. From this secret place, he went out to rob from the rich to give the poor.②Relative decline of the UK economy: the UK has experienced an economic declinesince 1945. But this is a relative decline rather than an absolute one. Britain is wealthier and more productive than it was in 1945, but since other countries developed more rapidly, it has slid from being the second largest economy to being the sixth.③Romanticism: Roughly the first third of the 19th century makes up Englishliterature’s romantic period. Writers of romantic literature are more concerned with imagination and feeling than with the power of reason. A volume of poems called Lyrical Ballads written by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge is regarded as the romantic poetr y’s “Declaration of Independence.” Keats, Byron and Shelley, the 3 great poets, brought the Romantic Movement to its height.The spirit of Romanticism also occurred in the novel.S①Sinn Fein: Sinn Fein is a legal political party in Northern Ireland which supports the IRA to fight for the union of Ireland. The leaders of Sinn Fein prefer union with Ireland by a twin campaign, both military and political which they call the policy of “the Bullet and the Ballot Box”. It believes that without the participation of Sinn Fein the political problem of Northern Ireland cannot be thoroughly solved.英国篇A①Agribusiness:P83Because American agriculture is big business, people coined the term“agribusiness”to reflect the large-scale nature of agricultural enterprises in the modern US economy.……②Affirmative Action Programs:P137B①Benjamin Franklin: Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers of theUnited States of America. He participated in writing the Declaration of independence and making the US Constitution.②The Bill of Rights: The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments whichwere added to the Constitution in 1791. The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech, the right to assemble is public places, the right to own weapons and so on.③The Baptists in the US:P98④Boards of educationLP137⑤The black “underclass”:P172⑥Bill Gates:P191⑦The abuse of power by government:P173⑧The abuse of power by corporations:P173⑨Blues:P236⑩Boogie Woogie:P236C①Corporation:P83②The Catholics in the US:P99③The civil rightsmovement:P154④Counterculture:P155⑤The Cold War:P204⑥The containment policy:P204D①The Declaration of Independence: The Declaration of Independence was mainlydrafted by Thomas Jefferson and 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 some unalienable rights such as life，liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It also explained the philosophy of government; the powers of governments came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of governments were to secure the rights mentioned above. The theory of politics and the guiding principles of the American Revolution mainly came from John Locke.②Drug abuse as a social problem:P172-173①The executive:P65②Eli Whitney:P83③Elementary school：In the United States, elementary school usually means grades kindergarten(k) through 8. But in some places, it includes only k-6. Many Americans refer to elementary grades as “grammar school”. Elementary schools teach mathematics, language, arts, social studies and some other subjects.③Engagement and expansion:P204④Early jazz music:P235F①The first English settlement in North America: The first English permanentsettlement was organized in 1607 by the London Company with a charter from the English King. The colonists settled in Virginia and survived by imposing strict discipline on themselves and by transplanting tobacco into the colony of Virginia.In 1619, the settlers elected their delegates and set up the House of Burgesses, and the same time they bought and enslaved black servants. These two events greatly influenced the political and social development of the United States later.② A federal system: A federal system is one in which power is shared between acentral authority and its constituent parts, with some rights reserved to each.G①George Washington: George Washington was one of the founding fathers of theAmerican Republic. He was the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in the War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.②Greensboro sit-in:P154③The Grand Canyon National Park :P222H①Higher education: P137American higher education includes 4 categories of institutions. They are the university, the four-year undergraduate institution (the college), the technical training institution and the two-year community college.……I①Industrial Revolution in America：After independence, America was principallyan agricultural country. The Industrial Revolution in England brought many changes to American industry factory between 1776 and 1860.One key development was the introduction of the factory system. A second development was the “American system”of mass production. A third development was the application of new technologies to industrial task. A fourth development was the emergence of new forms of business organization-the bank and the corporation.②The Internet:P191①James Naismith:P222L①Louis Armstrong:P236M①The making of the US Constitution:P65②Migrant workers: Many big farms hire temporary workers only for a specific chore—such as picking crops. Many of these seasonal workers travel from farm to farm, staying only until the crops are picked. They are known as migrant workers.③Montgomery bus boycott：P154④Martin Luther King.Jr.:P154N①NBA:P222P①Puritanism: Puritans were those who followed the doctrine of John Calvin andwanted to purify the Church of England. They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born. Some were God’s chosen people while others were damned to hell. No church nor good works could save people. The sign of being God’s elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling.They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God’s will and establish a direct contact with God. These beliefs had great impact on American culture.②Poverty as a social problem:P172③PC :P191R①Religious liberty in the US: The Declaration of Independence guaranteed the basicright of religious freedom and this right was a political necessity. The First Amendment to the US Constitution explicitly forbade the federal government to give special favors to any religion or to hinder the free practice, or exercise, of religion. When disputes about the relationship between government and religion arise, American courts must settle them. But American institutions presuppose a Supreme Being, therefore Christianity is often, in practice, more favored than other religions.②Religious diversity:P99③Richard Nixons:P173④Ragtime music:P236S①Samuel Slter:P83②Service industries:P83③Stock:P83④The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act:P137⑤Socially stratified American society:P172⑥Sept.11 terrorist attack :P204⑦The strategy of preemption:P204⑧Super Bowl:P222①Three Faiths in the US: By the 1950s,the 3 faiths model of American religionhad developed. Americans were considered to come in 3 basic varieties: Protestant, Catholic and Jewish. In terms of numbers, the Protestants are the strongest, the Catholics are next to the Protestants and Jewish are the smallest among the3 groups.②Taylorism and Fordism:P190U①Unilaterlism:P204W①White-collar crimes:P173②“The Wizard of Menlo Park”:P190Y①Yellowstone National Park:P222。

the bill of rights of 1689 名词解释the bill of rights of 1689，也被称为“英国权利法案”，是英国在1689年通过的一项重要法律文件。

其主要目的是限制英国国王的权力，确立议会的主权，并保障公民的权利和自由。

该法案的主要内容包括：
1.确立议会的主权：法案规定，英国国王必须按照议会通过的法律进行统治，而议会则由选举产生的议员组成。

2.保障公民的权利和自由：法案规定了一系列公民的基本权利和自由，如言论、信仰、集会等自由，以及不受无理搜查和逮捕的权利等。

总的来说，the bill of rights of 1689奠定了英国君主立宪制的基础，为英国政治制度的发展奠定了基础。

英美概况名词解释和大题（精选5篇）第一篇：英美概况名词解释和大题III.Explain the following terms.4.The Bill of Rights 《权利法案》In 1789, James Madison introduced in the House of Representatives a series of amendments which later were drafted into twelve proposed amendments and sent to the states for ratification.Ten of them were ratified in 1791 and the first ten amendments to the constitution were called the Bills of Rights because they were to insure individual liberties.5.The Emancipation Proclamation 《奴隶解放宣言》After the Civil war began, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to win more support at home and abroad.It granted freedom to all slaves in areas still controlled by the Confederacy.6.The Constitutional Convention 《制宪会议》In 1787, a conference was held in Philadelphia to consider what should be done to make the Articles of Confederation adequate.All the delegates agreed to revise the Articles of Confederation and draw up a new plan of government.After struggle, the Constitution was ratified at last.This conference is called the Constitutional Convention.7.The Truman Doctrine 《杜鲁门主义》On March 12, 1949, President Truman put forward the Truman Doctrine in a speech to the joint session of Congress.The Truman Doctrine meant to say that the ernment would support any country which said it was fighting against Communism.8.The Marshall Plan 《马歇尔计划》On June 5, 1947, the Secretary of State George Marshall announced the Marshall Plan, which meant that in order to protect Western Europe from possible Soviet expansion, theUnited States decided to offer Western European countries economic aid.9.Checks and balances:The government is divided into three branches, the legislative, the executive and the judicial, each has part of the powers but not all the power.And each branch of government can check, or block, the actions of the other branches.The three branches are thus in balance.This called “checks and balances”.10.The New Deal 《新政》In order to deal with the Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt put forward the New Deal program.It passed a lot of New Deal laws and set up many efficient social security systems.The New Deal helped to save American democracy and the development of American economy.The Declaration of Independence: The Declaration of Independence was mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson and 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 to have some unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.It also explained the philosophy of government: the powers of governments came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of governments were to secure the rights mentioned above.The theory of politics and the guiding principles of the American Revolution mainly came from John Locke.The Articles of Confederation 《联邦条例》: After the War of Independence was won, the new nation of the United States was organized under the agreement of the Articles of Confederation with a weak national government called the Congress.Each state had its own government, made its own laws and handled its internalaffairs.The states did not cooperate with the Congress and with each other.The Congress had no power to force any state to contribute money to the national government and the Congress could not tax any citizen either.As a result, the Articles of Confederation failed.The Civil Rights Movement: It is one of the most important of all social movements in the 1960s in America.Rosa Parks’ spontaneous action in 1955 was believe d to be the true beginning of the civil right, s movement.The black students’ sit-in at a department lunch counter in North Carolina touched off the nationwide civil right movement.During the first half of the decade, civil rights organizations like SNCC, CORE, and SCLC struggled for racial integration by providing leadership, tactics, network and the people.In the later half of the decade, some black organizations changed their nonviolent tactics, and emphasized on more radical means to end discrimination and raised the self-image of the blacks.The civil rights movement produced such great leaders as Martin Luther King.Jr.,and Malcolm X, who inspired a generation of both blacks and whites to devote their lives to fighting for racial equality in the US.Jazz: Jazz is a music genre that began at the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States.It came from a mix of African and European music traditions.T echnically, it is a kind of music characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, and improvisation.Though originally a kind of dance music, jazz has now become a sophisticated art form.Jazz's development occurred at around the same time as modern ragtime, blues, gospel and country music, all of which can be seen as part of continuum with no clear demarcation between them.Some of the jazz musicians include Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong.The cold war: By the end ofWWII, the United States, which had not suffered as much as other allied countries, became the strongest country in the world.As the processor of atomic tombs and much of the world's gold reserve and industrial production in its hand, the policy-maker of the US wanted a world order dominated by the US, a world market free and open to American goods and services.In pursuing this goal, the US encountered determined resistance from the Soviet Union, Gradually the two wartime allies fell apart and the Cold War began.The melting pot: “The melting pot” is a metaphor that is associated with life in America.It first surfaced in the late 18th century, but gained new currency in the 20th century when in 1905 a popular play by that name was first produced by a Jewish playwright named Israel Zangwill.The melting pot metaphor implied that, in the New World, all differences would be melted away to form a radically new mixture.But it was wrongly embraced by the WASPs which remained dominant until around the middle of the 20th century.After World War Ⅱ,the Anglophile WASPs gradually lost their privileged position.With all these changes, the melting pot metaphor was doomed to lose its credibility because its anglophilic values no longer held for the majority of the American people.1.Why did the early settlers come to America? Who were the Pilgrims? Who were the Puritans? What were the features in the colonial period which had influence on later American development?——The early settlers came to America either for the opportunity to realize their dreams and better their lives or for the freedom from religious and governmental persecution.The Pilgrims were persons who suffered religious persecution in England and went to Holland and later moved to America in1620.The Puritans were the members of a Protestant group in England who wanted to purify the Church of England.Dissatisfied and threatened in England, they saw America as a refuge and migrated to America since 1630.There were a number of features in the colonial period which had influence on later American development.They were: representative form of government, rule of law, respect of individual rights, religious tolerance and a strong spirit of individual enterprise.2.What were the causes of the War of Independence?——The economy In the thirteen colonies developed very fast and people wanted more power to detemine their own business.But the policy of the British government was to bring the development under control and to collect more taxes from the colonies.On April 19, 1775, on their way to Concord to seize the military supplies of the militia there, the British soldiers met armed militiamen.The shots were fired, the War of Independence began.3.What was unusual about the Article of Confederation? What was the struggle at the Constitutional Convention? How was the conflict solved?——The Article of Confederation was unusual in many ways.First, it provided for no king.The drafters blamed the troubles with Britain on king George III.So they decided not to have a king but to have a republic.This was revolutionary.Second, while the Articles created a central government in the form of a Congress, the emphasis was still on state powers.Third, the Articles of Confederation was a written constitution for the United States.No important country in the world at that time, including Britain, had a written constitution.At the Constitution Convertion the delegates all agreed it was impossible to try to patch up the Articles of Confederation, and decided to ignorethem and draw up a new plan of government.Here contradictions emerged between the bigger states and smaller states, between the industrial commercial interests and landed interests, etc.In the end, the conflict was resolved by the “Great Compromise” of July 16, giving each state and equal vote in the Senate but making representation in the House reflect the size of each state’s population.4.Why did the Civil War break out? How did the war end?——In the early 1800s, the Northern states turned from farming to manufacturing.Black slavery soon disappeared in the North.But things were different in the South.The South expanded both its agriculture and its slavery.The problem of slavery became a serous political issue.The abolitionists tried to abolish slavery while the South tried to keep it.When Abraham Lincoln was elected President, the Southern states broke away and formed a new nation.Then Lincoln was determined to maintain the Union and the war broke out on April 12, 1861, Lincoln realized that he could win support for the Union at home and abroad by making the war a just war against slavery.So he issued Emancipation Proclamation.Thus England and France stood by the Union’s side.Many black slaves joined the Union Army.After a series of battles, Robert Lee could no longer hold Richmond.He surrendered on April 9, 1865.The Civil War ended.6.What was the impact of the Vietnam War-on American society?——The Vietnam War had a great impact on American society.(1)The United States was weakened as a result of the long war.(2)American society had never been so divided since the Civil War.(3)There was serious disagreement with in the ruling circle.(4)The image of the United States, especially the image of the American armed forces, was discredited.7.What are thefunctions of the Congress?—— The Congress has many functions, but the most central is the passage of law.One of the most important non-legislative functions of the Congress is the power to investigate.A second important power is to compel testimony from unwilling witness and to cite for contempt of Congress witness who refuse to testify and for perjury those who give false testimony.8.What are some of the characteristics of American education?(1)Formal education in the United States consists of elementary, secondary and higher education.(2)Public educations is free and compulsory.(3)Diversity is considered to be an outstanding characteristic of American education.(4)Education is a function of the states, not the federal government..Write about 150 on the following topic.1.How did the Civil Wars break out? What were the consequences of the Civil Wars?—— Charles I also belie ved “the Divine Right of kings”.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 theSecond Civil War.In November 1648, the king was captured again and condemned to death.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.2.T ell briefly the history of the two-party system in the United States.What are the characteristics of the two major parties in the United States today?—— Political parties are the basis of the American political system.In general, America has a two-party system.This means that two major political parties-now the Democrats and the Republicans-dominate politics at the federal, state and local levels.There have been four periods in the history of political parties in America.The first periods of the party system began with the first two major parties or camps —— the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists led by Alexander Hamilton.Most of the Anti-Federalists later accepted the Constitution with the Bill of Rights, and began to call themselves Democratic-Republican.After the 1828 election of Andrew Jackson, the Democratic-Republican Party split.The main faction, led by Andrew Jackson, called themselves the Democratic Party, while the faction opposed to Jackson formed the Whig Party in 1834.As the struggle over slavery intensified, the majority of the Whig Party, part of the democrats, and other anti-slavery elements founded in 1854 the Republican Party.The third phase of the two-party system ran from the 1860s to the 1920s with the Republican Party dominating the political scene for most of the time.The fourthperiod began with Franklin D.Roosevelt’s coming into power and lasted till the 1980s.In this period, for about 50 years, with short interruptions, the Democratic Party was dominant.The Two major parties are really not very different today.But this does not mean there is not difference between them.On economic issues, the Democrats traditionally favour government intervention while the Republicans stress the role of the market more.On social issues the Democrats support a strong social security system while the Republicans oppose large government social security programs.In spite of these differences, the two parties both believe in individualism, defend capitalism and uphold private ownership of means of production.In terms of organization the two parties are actually loose political coalitions.3.What were the causes and consequences of the War of 1812?The causes leading to the war were the following:(1)A war between Britain and France was going on in Europe.First the American government adopted a policy of not allowing trading with both ter the ernment changed its policy by stating that if any of the two countries gave up its blockade against American shipping, the U.S.world lift the prohibition.In 1811, the U.S., on the condition that France would drop its blockade against American shipping, lifted the ban.This angered the British.(2)The Americans resented the British practice of impressing or forcibly removing seamen from American ships on the grounds that they were British subjects.(3)The U.S.wanted to take advantage of the War in Europe, when Britain and France had no time to look after their interests in the New World, to expand into Canada or Spanish Florida.This harmed the interests of the British.—— The war hadgreat impact on the development of the Unite States.Firstly, the war made people realize the importance of a strong national government.Secondly, the war strengthened the feeling of national unity and patriotism.Thirdly, for almost 10 years after the war, the Americans turned their attention to the devlopment of the western part of the continent.Fourthly, it made both Britain and the United States realize their disputes should be slove through negotiation.A shaky peace in 1814 turned into lasing peace between the two countries.1.What are some of the major powers of each of the three branches of the US government? How are the three branches supposed tocheck and balance each other?The legislative branch can make federal laws, levy federal taxes, declare war or put foreign treaties into effect.The centre of the executive branch is the president.The president can propose legislation to Congress, can issue regulations and directives regarding the work of the federal government’s many departments and agencies, can veto bills passed by Congress, appoint federal judges, the heads and senior officials of the executive branch agencies as well as ambassadors and other officials.He also is commander-in-chief of the armed forces.The judicial branch applies and explains the laws.Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases arising out of the Constitution, laws and treaties of the US;maritime case;issues involving foreign citizens or governments;and cases in which the federal government itself is a party.The Supreme Court determines whether congressional legislation or executive action violates the Constitution.2.What is the relationship between government and religion in America?(1)In the first place, according to the First Amendment to the Constitution, the USA would have no state-supportedreligion.What’s more, the government has no right to meddle in religious affairs or require any religious beliefs of its citizens.And government does not pay ministers’ salarie s or require any belief as a condition of holding public office.(2)On the other hand, in some ways, the government supports all religions.Religious groups do not pay taxes in the United States.The armed forces pay chaplains of all faiths.Presidents and other political leaders often call on god to bless the American nation and people.Those whose religion forbids them to fight can perform other services instead of becoming soldiers.(3)When disputes about the relationship between government and religion arise, American courts must settle them.(4)In the early years, some people believe that Protestant religion and republican forms of government were connected, because God supports their experiment in republican government.All in all, for some purposes government ignores religion and for other purposes it treats al religion alike, as long as it is practical.第二篇：英美国家概况名词解释等1.The civil rights movementIt is one of the most important of all social movements in the 1960s in America.Rosa Parks’ spontaneous action in 1955 was believed to the true beginning of the civil rights movement.The black students’ sit-in at a department lunch counter in North Carolina touched off the nationwide civil rights movement.During the first half of the decade, civil rights organizations like the SNCC,CORE,and SCLC struggled for racial intergration by providing leaderships,network and the people.In the latter half of the decade, some black organizations changed their nonviolent tactics, and emphasized on more radical means to end discrimination and raised the self-image of the blacks.Thecivil rights movement produced such great leaders as Martin Luther King.Jr, and Malcolm X, who inspired a generation of both blacks and whites to devote their lives to fighting for racial equality in th US.2.A federal system【联邦制】It is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constiuent parts, with some rights reserved to each.3.King ArthurIt is said that he was the King of England in the 5th century and united the British and drove the Saxons back with his magica sword,Excalibur.His real existence is in doubt.He is the central figure of many legends.4.The Anglo-SaxonsThey were two groups of Germanic peoples who settled down in England from the 5th century.They were regarded as the ancestors of the English and the founders of England.5.Riverdance[大河舞] It is a very popular form of dancing based on Ireland’s intricate[错综复杂的]folk dances which are rearranged and modernized and adapted onto current stage performance.Dancing is traditionally part of Irish culture.It is usually accompanied by the Irish pipe and fiddle.The music usually sounds fast and furious.Most of the actionis from the waist down, with the arms held rigidly at the sides.6.The House of CommonsIt is the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives(members of parliament)make and debate policy.These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.7.The Commonwealth【英联邦】In the author’s opinion, the Commowealth is a voluntary association of states which is made up mostly of former British colonies.There are 50 members of the Commonwealth: many ofthese are developing countries like India and Cyprus;others are developed nations like Australia,Canada and New Zealand.The Commonwealth was set up as a form for continued cooperation and as a sort of support network.8.MaoritangaIt is the Maori word for “Maori culture.” It refers to all the elements of the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous people in New Zealand, including their language, customs and traditions,9.The “Washminster” form polityIt is adopted by the Australian government.It is a mixture of the US Washington system of government and the British Westminster system.This means that the political structure of the government is base on a Federation of States with a three-tier system of government.However, the chief executive is a Prime Minister, instead of a President as in the US system.10.Yellowstone National ParkIt is the oldest and one of the largest national parks in the US.It is named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.counterculture[反主流文化]In the wake of the Free Speech Movement and the New Left, there appeared a phenomenon that historians called the “counterculture”.The counterculture rejected capitalism and other Americans principles.They had morals different from those taught by their parents.Some group of youth tried to construct different ways of life,.Among the most famous were the hippies.They thought new experience through dropping out, and drug taking.But it was music,rock music particular, that became the chief vehicle for the counter cultural assault on the traditional American society.The counterculture exerted a great influence upon people’s attitudes toward social morals, marriage, careerand success.Martin Luther King, Jr.A black Baptist minister, he was leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the civil rights movements of the 1960s.To promote his philosophy of nonviolent protest against segregation and other kinds of social injustice, King organized a series of “marches”, including the march on Washington of August 1963, when King delivered his famous “ I Have a Dream” speech.As a civil rights leader, King worked not only to end racial discrimination and poverty, but also to raise the self image of the blacks.Due to his strong belief in non-violent peaceful protest, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1964.He was assassinated in the city of Memphis in April 1968.13．Richard NixonRichard Nixon was the former President of the United States.He won the elction in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972.While he was in office, he contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China and visited China in 1972.Shortly after he was re-elected ,he was involved in theWatergate scandal,for which he was forced to resign from the presidency.1.Explain your understanding of how the United States is governed according to its constitution, including its polity and the check and balance mechanism of governing.if Congress proposes a law that the president think is unwise, the president can veto it.That means the proposal does not became law.Congress can enact the law despite the president’s views only if two-thirds of the members of both houses vote in favor of it.If Congress passes a low which is the challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional and therefore no longer in effect.The president has the power to make treaties with other nations andto make all appointments to federal positions,including the position, of Supreme Court justice.The Senate,however,must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become official.In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointments.2.How do you understand the saying: ”British history has been a history of invasion.” ?Before the 1st century AD Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people:a powerful cultural originating in central Europe.Then in 43AD Britain was invaded by Roman Empire, and England and Wales became part of the Roman Empire for nearly400 years.As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east, the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain, and Britain was again divided into small kindoms, andagain it came under threat from outside, this time from Germanic peoples:the Angles,and the Saxon.In the 5th century AD it is said that a great leader-King Arthur appeared, united the British, and with his magical sword, Excalibur,drove the Saxons back.whatever Arthur’s success,legend or not,it did not last,for the Anglo-Saxons did succeed in invading Britain,and either absorbed the Celticpeople,or pushed them to the western and northern edges of Britain.From the late 8th century on, raiders from Scandinavia, the ferocious Vikings, threatened Britain’s shores.Their settlements in England grew until large areas of northern and eastern England were under their control.1066, the Normans, from northern France, whowere descendants of Vikings.Under William of Normandy they cross the English Channel and in the Battle of Hastings, defeated an English army under King Harold.This marks the last time.that an army fromoutside the British Isles succeeded in invading3.Your understanding of the characteristics of American religion and its social functionsFirst of all, American with different religions live together under the same law.The Bill of Rights in the US Constitution insists that there should be no state religion.That means that the government has no right to interfere in people’s religious affairs.The freedom of religion and the separation of state and church guaranted in the Constitution is believed to be the basic principles against religious persecution.Secondly,the religious beliefs of Americans continue to be strong with social progress.Every Sunday morning, all over America people pour into the churches.Half of American Protestants are active church members, and there are few who habitually stay away.Not only the Catholic churches,but the Protestant ones too,are flourishing,and new ever-growing suburbs.Through all the social and economic changes religion has remained a constant factor.Thirdly,in the united states every church is a completeluy independent organization,and concerned with its own finance and its own building.if one goes to a Protestant church,he or she will hear morality preached,but not a word of doctrine.Churches and religious sects are expressions of group solidarity rather than of rigid adherence to doctrine.第三篇：英美概况论文文化是一个复合体，其中包括知识、信仰、艺术、法律、道德、风俗以及人作为社会成员而获得的任何其他能力和习惯。