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美国文化概况Chapter 1 Population, race and ethnic groups第一章人口和种族1) Introduction①American is the third most populous country in the world, with 255.5 million people. It isa nation of immigrants. Immigration accounts for a major source of population growth. There are many racial and ethnic groups. Between 80% and 90% of immigration in the United States now is from Asian and Hispanic counties. The first immigrants in American history came from England and Netherlands. Population movements are common in America.美国是世界上的第三大人口国，总人口约2.555亿，仅次于中国和印度。
美国是一个移民大国，移民人口是其人口总数增长的重要原因。
美国的有着不同民族和种族的人口。
在目前美国移民人口中，80%-90%来自亚洲和西班牙语国家。
美国历史上最早的移民来自于英格兰和荷兰。
人口迁徙在美国十分普遍。
2) Black people and the Civil Rights Movement①blacks and slaveryThe largest of the racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S., which 12.1 per cent of the population; the first blacks were brought to North America as slaves in 1619.美国最大的少数人种是黑人，占人口的12.1%；1619年最早的人人作为奴隶被运至美国。
高一上册Unit 3 American English美国英语Lesson 9 1 DialogueYang Mei is now studying in the States.She meets her new teacher,Sara,for the first time.Sara is an American.They are talking before the term starts.杨梅现在正在美国学习。
她第一次见到她的新老师萨拉。
萨拉是美国人。
开学前她们在交谈。
SARA: So you are Yang Mei.Nice to meet you.萨拉：这么说你就是杨梅了。
见到你很高兴。
Yang MEI: How do you do ?I'm sorry.I know only a little English.I have some difficulty in pronouncing some of the words in English.杨梅：你好，很遗憾，我只懂一点英语。
我有些英语单词发音不好。
SARA: No,you're doing fine.萨拉：不，你发音很好。
Yang Mei: Thank you.杨梅：谢谢。
SARA: And when do you take your next exams?萨拉：还有，你什么时候参加下次考试？Yang MEI: In June.杨梅：六月份。
SARA: I see. What do you want to do next fall?萨拉：我明白了。
今年秋季你打算干什么？Yang MEI: Pardon? Would you please say that again more slowly?杨梅：对不起，请你慢点儿再说一遍好吗？SARA: What do you want to do next fall?萨拉：今年秋季你打算干什么？Yang MEI: Next what? I'm sorry I don't quite follow you.杨梅：下一个什么？对不起，我没有完全听懂你的话。
《英语国家概况》各章节概要知识点——美国部分1. Population, Race and Ethnic Groups 人口与民族世界第三人口大国，20世纪90年代人口增长更加迅速，将来60年还将迅猛增加。
预计将从1992年的25，550万，增加到2000年的27，500万。
移民是人口增长的主要来源，基本开放的移民政策。
现在多数移民来自亚洲和拉丁美洲。
城市化高，最大的城市：纽约，洛杉矶，芝加哥，旧金山，费城。
1946-1964是生育高峰，20世纪80年代人口老龄化趋势。
美国是移民国家。
第一批移民来自英国和荷兰，为了逃避宗教迫害，寻求更好的生活，契约劳工。
三次移民浪潮：第一次移民浪潮始于1805年，1845年到达高峰，许多爱尔兰人迁入。
第二次移民浪潮从1860-1890。
第三次移民浪潮从1890-1914，是最大的一次。
来自奥匈帝国，意大利，俄国，希腊，罗马尼亚和土耳其。
Characteristics of the American population 美国人口的特征流动性。
四次大规模的人口流动：第一次从内战结束到1880年，西进运动。
从东海岸向西部迁移。
第二次从1890-1920年，随着工业化和城市化的实现，人口从农村涌向城市。
第三次从1920-1960年，大批黑人离开南方涌入外地。
第四次从60年代至今，从东北部向西南部的阳光地带迁移。
Black people and the Civil Rights Movement 黑人与民权运动黑人是美国人口最多的少数民族。
自1619年作为奴隶贩运到北美洲，集中在南部农业区，生活悲惨。
代表小说《汤姆叔叔的小屋》和《根》。
1863年林肯的《解放奴隶宣言》和1865《宪法》第13条修正案正式结束了奴隶制，但仍存在歧视。
1954年布朗诉教育委员会一案，开始了漫长的废除种族隔离的进程。
60年代爆发民权运动。
1964年通过《民权法案》，1965年通过《选举权法案》。
Text什么是美国的？这已经成为一个经典的问题不仅是美国访问的外国人，更是美国人常常问自己。
当美国人感到困惑，或者当他们在危机时，他们问他们是谁，并试图找出什么是美国人的手段。
事实上，这个著名的问题时，首先问一个法国人称为J.海克特圣约翰日克雷弗克谁定居在宾夕法尼亚州的18世纪。
在1782年，这个法国农民在伦敦出版了一本书，从美国的农民，他所提出的问题，并回答了自己提出的信：“那么，什么是美国，这个新好男人？他要么是欧洲，或子孙欧洲，因此，随着血液中奇妙的混合在一起，你会发现在没有其他国家。
我可以向你指出，一个家庭，其祖父是英国人，他的妻子是一位荷兰人，他的儿子娶了一位法国妇女，其目前有4个儿子现在4个不同国家的妻子。
他是美国人，谁在他身后留下他的所有古老的偏见和方式，收到他的生活已经接受，他的新政府遵循的新模式新，而新职，他认为。
· · ·在这里个人的所有国家都成为一个男人，他们的劳动力和子孙后代新一轮融化总有一天会导致世界。
美国是一个新好男人，原则的行为后，新的巨大变化，他因此必须招待新的想法，和形式·新意见·这是一个美国人。
据克雷弗克，在那些日子里，美国有没有考虑到欧洲人的或其后代混血儿，如美洲印第安人和黑人其他民族。
今天，美国情况较为复杂。
在美国家庭中，有可能是儿子，儿媳或女儿女婿与欧洲后裔或非裔美国人和亚裔移民尽管这些白人混血与其他黑人或亚洲人的家庭占少数。
为了理解这一点，美国，让我们回到美国的过去。
A New Land美国大陆的人居住，作为两个结果长期持续的移民运动，第一个来自亚洲，欧洲和非洲的第二位。
第一乐章开始大概25 000年前，当西伯利亚部落，在新的狩猎区或从追求寻求避难的敌人，在越过白令海峡到达阿拉斯加。
到1492年，超过10-20万人，误称为居住克里斯托弗哥伦布在美洲，印第安人。
他们发展了自己的原住民文化，从原始的部落那些从简单到复杂不等的阿兹特克人，印加人，玛雅人和灿烂的文明。
The United States of AmericaPart 1The Country and The American IdentityCommon-sense Knowledge1、全称：The United States of America (美利坚合众国)2、简称： the United States;the U.S.; America.3、National Anthem：《星条旗永不落》 "The Star-Spangled Banner（同时可以叫做国旗）"1931年被美国国会正式定为国歌。
4、National Flower：Rose5、Jet lag: About 16 hours (west of America), and 13 hours (east of America).（了解）6、The Capital: Washington D.C.为纪念美国国父乔治-华盛顿和发现美洲新大陆的哥伦布Christophe而定名7、绰号：山姆大叔（Uncle Sam）Location1、Canada on the north； Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico on the south ；Atlantic Ocean on the east； Pacific Ocean on the west.2、The largest country in the world：Russia，Canada， China，America，brazil，Australia.3、50 states in totalAlaska—the largest ；Rhode Island (罗德岛州)—the smallest ；Texas（德克萨斯州）—the largest on the mainland4、著名城市Boston是Massachusetts 马萨诸塞州的首府5、两边两座山，中间一条河。
美国UNIT 3 l.What is an American? He is either a European, or the descendant of a European, hence that strange mixture of blood, which you will find in no other country. He is an American, who leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new go ver nment he obeys, and the new rank he holds.... Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world. ... The American is a new man, who acts new principles; he must therefore en tertai n new ideas, and form new opinions. 4 .In what way did Puritanism influe nee America n culture?A. Today, Puritans are no Ion ger in existence. But their legacies are still felt in American society and culture. For example, the Puritans hoped to build "a city upon hill" an ideal comm unity. Since that time, America ns have viewed their country as a great experiment, a worthy model for other nations. This sense of mission has been very strong in the minds of many Americans.B. The Puritans also have left rich cultural heritage to future America ns. The America n values such as in dividualism, hard work, respect of educatio n owe very much to the Puritan beliefs.UNIT 4 1 Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? Was it necessary to change the Articles of Confederation and write a new constitution for the new nation of the United States at the time? The Articles of Confedera廿on failed because the states did not cooperate with the Congress or with each other. When the Congress needed money to pay the national army or to pay debts owed to Fra nee and other nati ons, some states refused to con tribute. The Con gress had bee n given no authority to force any state to do anything. It could not tax any citizen. Only the state in which a citizen lived could do that. 2. What is a federal system? What are some of the major differences between a federal system and a confederation? The Constitution set up a federal system with a strong cen tral go ver nment. A federal system is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constituent parts, with some rights reserved to each. The Con stituti on also called for the electi on of a nati on al leader, or preside nt. It provided that federal laws would be made only by a Congress made up of representatives elected by the people. It also provided for a national court system headed by a Supreme Court. 3. What are some of the major powers of each of the three bra nches of the U.S. go ver nment? How are the three bra nches supposed to check and bala nee each other? If Con gress proposes a law that the preside nt thinks is un wise, the preside nt can veto it. That means the proposal does not become law. Con gress can en act the law despite the preside nt's views only if two-thirds of the members of both houses vote in favor of it. If Congress passes a law which is then challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconst:itutional and therefore no Ion ger in effect. The preside nt has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appointments to federal positions, including the position of Supreme Court justice. The Sen ate, however; must approve all treaties and con firm all appoi ntme nts before they become official. In this way the Con gress can preve nt the preside nt from maki ng un wise appointments 4. What is the Bill of Rights? Do you think that it was necessary to write the Bill of Rights explicitly into the U.S. Constitution? The Bill of Rights: the first 10 amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were added within two years of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. These amendments remain intact today, as they were written two centuries ago. The first guarantees freedom of worship, speech and press, the right of peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government to correct wrongs. The Bill of Rights and subsequent con stituti onal ame ndme nts guara ntee the America n people the fullest possible opport unity to enjoy fundamental human rights. 5 What are the two political parties in the United States? Do you think they are fun dame ntally different? The Un ited States has two major political parties. One is the Democratic Party, which evolved out of Thomas」efferson's party, formed before 1800. The symbol of the party is the donkey. The other is theRepublican Party, which was formed in the 1850s, by people in the states of the North and West, such as Abraham Lin coin, who wan ted the go ver nment to preve nt the expa nsion of slavery into new states the n being admitted to the union. The symbol of the Republican Party is the elephant.UNIT 6 1. In what way do you think that religious freedom was a historical necessity in the United States? 1. By the middle of the 18th century, many different kinds of Protestants lived in America. 2. The Great Awakening of the 1740s, a "revivamovement that sought to breathe new feeling and st re ngth into religi on, cut across the lines of Protesta nt religious groups, or denominations. 3. A few America ns were so in flue need by the new scie nee and new ideas of the En lighte nment in Europe that they became deists, believing that reason teaches that God exists but leaves man free to settle his own affairs. 4. The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States forbade the new federal go ver nment to give special favors to any religio n or to hin der the free practice, or exercise, of religion. 3 What promotes the diversity in American religion? 1. The United States has always been a fertile ground for the growth of new religious movements. Fron tier America provided plenty of room to set up a new church or found a new comm unity. 2. Many religious communities and secular utopias, or experiments in new forms of social living, were foun ded in 18th and 19th century America. 3. America ns with differe nt religions live together under the same law. 4. The religious beliefs of Americans continue to be strong with social progress. 5. In the United States every church is a completely independent organization, and concerned with its own finance and its own building. 6. Continuous immigration.UNIT 8 1. What is the goal of education in the United States? Discuss the similarities and differences in Great Britain, the United States and China concerning the goals of education. 答：The goal is一and has been since the early decades of the republic一to achieve universal literacy and to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote both their own individual welfare as well as that of the general public. Though this goal has not yet been fully achieved, it remains an ideal toward which the American educational system is directed. The progress which has bee n made is no table both for its scope and for the educati onal methods which have been developed in the process of achieving it. 2. How did American education begin to develop? In 1634, they ope ned a zz latee n grammar" school, a school for those who wan ted to prepare for college. In 1636, Harvard College was founded for the training of religious ministers. In 1634 and 1638, the Puritans passed laws declaring that all property could be taxed for the comm on good, which in eluded the support of school. I n 1642 and 1647, the Bay Colony passed laws requiring all parents to provide reading educating for their children. At the end of the 18th century, elementary education throughout the United States was in local hands. 3. What are the major characteristics of education in America? (l)Different education laws for different states.(2)Several levels of schooli ng： Eleme ntary Schooli ng, Sec on dary Schooli ng and High Schooli ng.(3)curricula for students: there is no national curriculum in the United States. (3)Compulsory education for all students. (4)Equal education opportunities for minority groups. (5)Strong dema nd for higher educati on. (6)The complex system of higher educati on. Some states play a strong role in the selection of learning material for their students. Schools were asked not only to teach this new information, but to help students ask their own questions about it. The "inquiry" method of learning, focusing on solving problems rather than memorizing facts, became popular. 或者3.What do you think some of the characteristics of education in America? 1. About 85% of American students attend public schools (schools supported by American taxpayers). The other 15% attend private schools, for which their families choose to pay special attendance fees. Four out of five private schools in theUnited States are run by churches, synagogues or other religious groups. In such schools, religious teachings are a part of the curriculum. 2. Each of the 50 states in the United States has its own laws regulating education. From state to state, some laws are similar; others are not. Education in the United States was to remain in the hands of state and local go ver nmen ts. 3. America ns have a str ong tendency to educate their childre n about major public concerns—problems such as environmentai pollution, nuclear issues, neighborhood crime and drugs.Unit9 1, what were the major social movement of the 1960s? And what was the historical background of the social movements of that decade? 一(1) the Civil Rights Movement, the Youth Movement, the Anti-War Movement, Free Speech Movement, Counter Culture, Women's Liberation Movement. (2) 1. During World War Two, many American Negroes had a taste of life outside the South. They knew that life in the segregated South, where Negroes were prevented from working at good jobs and getting good education, was not the American way of life. 2. Women earned less money and had fewer opportunities to advanee than men working in the same jobs, or they became housewives, isolated at home with their children. 3. Many young people resented traditional white male values in US society. 4. When the US army began to fight in Vietnam, many people thought the war was wrong. They did not understand why US troops were fighting in Asia.。
Chapter 13 geography 地理位置I. Location and size1. The full name of the United States is the United States of America. The continental United States lies in central North America with Canada to its north, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico to its south, the Atlantic Ocean to its east and the Pacific Ocean to its west.Alaska and Hawaii are the two newest states in America. Alaska borders on northwestern Canada and Hawaii lies in the central Pacific.阿拉斯加和夏威夷是最近加入美国的两个新州。
阿拉斯加在加拿大的西北部，夏威夷位邻中太平洋。
2. The U.S has a land area of 9.3 million square kilometers. It is the fourth largest country in the world in size after Russia, Canada and China.就面积而言，美国是世界第四大国，就人口而言，美国是世界是第三大国。
3. Of all states of American, Alaska is the largest in area and Rhode Island the smallest. But on the mainland Texas is the largest sate of the country.所有州中，阿拉斯加是面积最大的州，罗得岛最小，在美国大陆，最大的州是得克萨斯州。
新版“英语国家概况”精讲笔记Chapter 1第一章Land and People英国的国土与人民I. Different Names for Britain and its Parts英国的不同名称及其各组成部分1.Geographical names: the British Isles, Great Britain and England.地理名称：不列颠群岛，大不列颠和英格兰。
2.Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.官方正式名称：大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国。
3.The British Isles are made up of two large islands-Great Britain (the larger one) and Ireland, and hundreds of small ones.不列颠群岛由两个大岛—大不列颠岛（较大的一个）和爱尔兰岛，及成千上万个小岛组成。
4.Three political divisions on the island of Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales.大不列颠岛上有三个政治区：英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士。
(1) England is in the southern part of Great Britain. It is the largest, most populous section. 英格兰位于大不列颠岛南部，是最大，人口最稠密的地区。
(2) Scotland is in the north of Great Britain. It has three natural zones (the Highlands in the north; the Central lowlands; the south Uplands) Capital: Edinburgh 苏格兰位于大不列颠的北部。
英美概况知识点总结英美是指英国和美国这两个英语为官方语言的国家。
它们在政治、经济、文化等方面有许多共同点，同时也存在一些差异。
下面将从地理、历史、政治、经济、文化等方面对英美进行总结。
地理概况：英美两国都位于北美洲，但地理位置有一些差异。
英国是一个由大不列颠岛和北爱尔兰组成的岛国，位于欧洲西北部的大西洋上。
美国则位于北美洲的中北部，东临大西洋，西濒太平洋。
历史概况：英国是一个历史悠久的国家，拥有世界上最古老的君主制度。
英国曾经是世界上最大的殖民帝国，统治过许多地区。
美国则是一个相对年轻的国家，于1776年宣布独立，脱离英国殖民统治。
美国独立后逐渐发展成为世界上最强大的国家之一。
政治概况：英国是一个君主立宪制国家，国家元首是女王，但实际上的政府首脑是首相。
英国的政治制度相对稳定，以议会制度为基础。
美国是一个联邦制共和国，国家元首是总统，政府采取三权分立的制度。
美国的政治制度注重个人自由和权利保护。
经济概况：英国是世界上第六大经济体，拥有发达的市场经济和先进的金融体系。
主要经济领域包括金融服务、制造业、创意产业等。
美国是世界上最大的经济体，拥有高度发达的市场经济和先进的科技产业。
主要经济领域包括金融服务、制造业、科技产业等。
文化概况：英国是文化的发源地之一，拥有丰富的文化遗产和悠久的文学传统。
莎士比亚、狄更斯等文学巨匠都是英国的代表作家。
英国还有伦敦的剧院、博物馆等文化场所吸引着世界各地的游客。
美国是一个多元文化的国家，吸引了许多移民和不同文化背景的人。
美国的文化产业非常发达，好莱坞电影、流行音乐等在世界范围内有着广泛影响。
总结：英美两国在地理、历史、政治、经济、文化等方面都有许多共同点，同时也存在一些差异。
英国是一个历史悠久、文化底蕴深厚的国家，而美国则是一个相对年轻、多元文化的国家。
两国都在世界上扮演着重要的角色，对全球发展和影响具有重要意义。
英美概况知识点总结一、地理位置英国位于欧洲西北部，由大不列颠岛和北爱尔兰岛两大部分组成，与法国相隔英吉利海峡。
美国则位于北美洲，南临墨西哥湾，东隔大西洋与非洲相望。
二、历史背景1. 英国历史悠久，是一个大英帝国时代曾经占领过大片海外领土的国家，也是现今英联邦的成员国。
2. 美国则是一个相对较新的国家，于1776年宣布独立，随后在19世纪迅速扩张，成为世界上最强大的国家之一。
三、社会制度1. 英国为君主立宪制国家，现为君主立宪制议会民主制国家。
2. 美国为联邦制共和国家，政府分为三个独立的机构，即行政、立法和司法。
四、宗教1. 英国是一个多元宗教国家，主要宗教包括英国国教（基督教）、天主教和伊斯兰教等。
2. 美国宗教信仰自由，主要宗教包括基督教、天主教、犹太教、伊斯兰教、佛教等。
五、文化1. 英国文化深厚，以莎士比亚、狄更斯等文学巨匠为代表，拥有世界上最古老的大学之一牛津大学。
2. 美国文化年轻活力，是全球娱乐文化的重要输出国，好莱坞产出大量世界级电影和音乐。
六、教育1. 英国的教育体系包括小学、中学、大学等，素有“教育王国”的美誉。
2. 美国教育分为幼儿园、小学、中学、大学等，大学中拥有世界一流的学府如哈佛大学、斯坦福大学等。
七、科技1. 英国拥有世界领先的科学研究机构和科技企业，如剑桥大学的科研实力备受赞誉。
2. 美国在科技领域有世界上最杰出的创新能力和科研机构，硅谷更是全球IT行业的中心。
八、经济1. 英国是一个高度发达的资本主义经济体系，金融业、制造业、服务业是主要支柱。
2. 美国是世界上最大的经济体，以先进的科技和创新，拥有全球范围内强大的影响力。
九、旅游景点1. 英国拥有众多著名旅游景点，如大本钟、温莎城堡、巨石阵等。
2. 美国也有众多旅游胜地，如纽约时代广场、大峡谷、好莱坞等。
十、社会福利1. 英国实行普遍医疗保险制度，居民享受国家提供的医疗服务。
2. 美国的医疗保险制度相对复杂，没有普遍的国家医疗保健计划。
《英美国家概况》终极笔记中英文对照版新版“英语国家概况”精讲笔记Chapter 1第一章Land and People 英国的国土与人民I.Different Names for Britain and its Parts英国的不同名称及其各组成部分1.Geographical names: the British Isles, Great Britain and England.地理名称：不列颠群岛，大不列颠和英格兰。
2.Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.官方正式名称：大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国。
3.The British Isles are made up of two large islands-Great Britain (the larger one) and Ireland,and hundreds of small ones.不列颠群岛由两个大岛—大不列颠岛（较大的一个）和爱尔兰岛，及成千上万个小岛组成。
4.Three political divisions on the island of Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales.大不列颠岛上有三个政治区：英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士。
(1) England is in the southern part of Great Britain. It is the largest, most populous section.英格兰位于大不列颠岛南部，是最大，人口最稠密的地区。
(2) Scotland is in the north of Great Britain. It has three natural zones (the Highlands in the north; the Central lowlands; the south Uplands) Capital: Edinburgh苏格兰位于大不列颠的北部。
Chapter 20 Education 教育[被屏蔽广告] 1．It is a general view that every American has the right and obligation to become educated. American believe that ,through education, an individual acquires th e knowledge, skill ,attitudes and abilities which will enable him to fit into society and im prove his social status. Education helps to shape the society and develop the national stre ngth。
在美国，人们普遍认识是，每一个人都有受教育的权利和义务，通过受教育，人们可以更好的适应社会，提高自身的社会地位，教育有助于塑造社会，增强国家实力。
（2000，46题，一句话回答）2．Formal education in the U.S consists of elementary ,secondary and higher educat ion, Elementary and secondary education,which forms public education, is free and compul sory.美国正规的教育由初等，中等和高等教育组成，初等，中等教育属公立教育，是免费和义务的。
3．In American ,there are more public elementary and secondary schools that privat e ones, while private colleges and universities outnumber public ones.在美国，公立中小学比私立多，而私立大学比公立大学多。
Unit 3 American IdentityAmerican identity, Melting Pot, political thoughts, the melting pot, United States, frontier, nation, human being, Abraham Lincoln, American culture, Thomas Jefferson, American dream, American values, forefathers, the american people, political liberty, political state, blond hair, skin color, better living, fair skin, Federalist papers, red hair, hard labor, civil liberties, anti federalist papers, free land, everyday life, New World, Puritans, innovation, documents, the early days, beliefs, to survive, farther away, immigrating, Coast, theocracy, Patriotism, undeveloped, Hispanics, individualism, Asians, worry, paradoxes, insure, mainstream, unity, pride,For hundreds of years, people have been immigrating to the United States in search of freedom, better living and the fulfillment of the American dream. Being an American means to uphold values of independence, responsibility and freedom. Patriotism and unity are main agents for a nation's identity. These values have been forged by our forefathers, and still remain vibrant in the American culture from east through west. As we will see, the existing American identity has been influenced by many factors, such as the Frontier, the Melting Pot and the political thoughts on this nation.America represents the "New World", where immigrants can do things they had thought beyond their capabilities. That's the reason why we find in here this great mix of backgrounds, and why America has been called the Melting Pot of cultures. A large part of American history involves the struggle of ethnic groups against the mainstream population in order to obtain respect and independence. Because the founding fathers were white males, many used to think that this should be the case with all citizens. In these days, with the varying backgrounds of American residents, this status can no longer be defined in terms of skin color. Although all these different races are living in the same country, not all of them are united - only those who have been oppressed for centuries (blacks, Hispanics, Asians, etc.) are finding commonalties in their struggles, and these are the people who are redefining the standards. Sometimes is the minority itself who holds the country's belief system in high regard, while the "traditional" Americans take them for granted.A person can have pride in his own culture and still respect and adapt parts of another. This is the essential principle behind America.James Truslow Adams, in his book The Epic of America, which was written in 1931, stated that the American dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position." (p.214-215)The authors of the United States’ Declaration of Independence held certain truths to be self-evident: that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Might this sentiment be considered the foundation of the American Dream?Were homesteaders who left the big cities of the east to find happiness and their piece of land in the unknown wilderness pursuing these inalienable Rights? Were the immigrants who came to the United States looking for their bit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, their Dream? And what did the desire of the veteran of World War II - to settle down, to have a home, a car and a family - tell us about this evolving Dream? Is the American Dream attainable by all Americans?Some say, that the American Dream has become the pursuit of material prosperity - that people work more hours to get bigger cars, fancier homes, the fruits of prosperity for their families - but have less time to enjoy their prosperity. Others say that the American Dream is beyond the grasp of the working poor who must work two jobs to insure their family’s survival. Yet others look toward a new American Dream with less focus on financial gain and more emphasis on living a simple, fulfilling life.Thomas Wolfe said, "…to every man, regardless of h is birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him."Is this your American Dream?。
