英美概况期末考题

Questions for the final examination (26items)

American Beginnings

1.What were the new and powerful social forces which led to the awakening of

Europe and the discovery of America?’p34

The first new force was the development of capitalism; the second major force that brought about the modern development of Europe was the Renaissance, which marked a changing outlook on life; the third influential force was the Religious Reformation, a religious reform movement that started from Germany.

2.What was the unique American phenomenon? How did it come into being? Do

you think it still exists in today’s American society?

The unique American phenomenon is that, on the one hand, the English and other Europeans went to North America for seeking freedom. On the other hand, these very white people who were seeking and fighting for their own freedom deprived black Africans of their freedom.

On July 30, 1619, the first meeting of an elected legislature, a representative assembly, was held in Virginia. A month later, still in Virginia, a Dutch ship brought in over 20 Negroes as servants for a term of years to make a start toward the enslavement of Africans within what was to be the American republic.

T his phenomenon still exists in today’s American society, such as the racial discrimination.Until now, the black people still receive the unfair prejudice. However, the society in America is full of freedom, especially to the white people. They have a lot of rights in their life.

3.In what way did Puritanism influence American culture?p37-38

New England established another American tradition—a strain of often intolerant moralism. The Puritans believed that governments should enforce God's morality. They strictly punished drunks, adulterers, violators of the Sabbath and other religious believers different from themselves. Roger Williams, one of the Puritans who protested that the state should not interfere with religion, was driven out of Massachusetts. In 1635, he set up Rhode Island colony, which guaranteed religious freedom and the separation of church and state. The Puritans also have left rich cultural heritage to future Americans. The American values such as individualism, hard work, respect of education owe very much to the Puritan beliefs.

4.In what way did the pattern of founding of Maryland influence American culture?

In 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act, which assured freedom of worship to all who believed in Jesus Christ, was passed. Because the Protestant majority were capitalistic-minded people and refused to carry out the feudal plan, and because the wilderness of North America provided plenty of land while labor was scarce, Maryland like other colonies in North America, followed a capitalist development road, that is to say, America was on a capitalist road.

The Political System

1.What is a federal system? P52

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 Constitution specified