Melting Pot: Immigrants from different regions and cultures came to live in the United States, their old ways of life melt away and they became part of the American culture・WASPs: WASPS are the mainstream Americans, referring to the white Anglo-Saxon ProtestantsThe Hispanics: The Hispanics are Spanish-speaking people from Latin America, which was once dominated by the Spanish Empire・American Indians: The Indian peoples are known as the first Americans. When Columbus landed in the New World in 1492, he thought he had reached India and called the natives Indians・Separation of powers: Under the federalist system, the federal and the state governments have separate and distinct powers laid down in the Constitutio n.^Winner-take-air5principle: The party that wins most votes (simple majority) in a state wins all the electoral votes for the state and the defeated party gets none・Federalism: Federalism in the United States is the evolving relationship between U.S. state governments and the federal government of the United States・ Since the founding of the country, and particularly with the end of the American Civil War, power shifted away from the states and towards the national government.Thanksgiving Day: It's on the fourth Thursday of Novembe匚It is a typicalAmerican holiday that originated in the colonial time・ It is an annual day for people to thank God for the blessing they have enjoyed during the yea 匚The theme of thanksgiving has always been peace and plenty, health and happiness・Independence Day: It9s on July 4. It is American^ most important patriotic holiday and the birthday of the nation.Easter Sunday: It's on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after March 21, and it is for celebrating the rising of Jesus Christ from his tomb three days after his death・Halloween: In the US, Halloween falls on Oct 31. It's a nighttime children's day and a time for frightening costumes, masks, parties, games and tricks― all for fun..Mayflower Compact: It was signed by all adult male passengers on the ship. They agreed to stick together, to abide by majority role, to have a right to choose their own leader. It was the beginning of the US democracy.1The Sugar Act: In 1764, the English Parliament passed the Sugar Act, which imposed import duties on non-English cloth, indigo, coffee, wine, sugar, and molasses.2The Stamp Act: In 1765, the Stamp Act was carried by the English Parliament. The act, aimed to collect more taxes, provided that stamp paper must be used for all legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers, college diplomas, bonds, contracts, bills of sales, license, leases and many otherarticles.3Boston Massacre: In March 1770, several boys threw snowballs at the English soldiers guarding the office building for collecting import duties in Boston. As more people gathered and pushed forward, the jumpy soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five protesters・4The Boston Tea Party: On the night of December 16, 1773, a band of 50 men disguised as Indians and led by Samuel Adams, boarded three British tea-bearing ships lying at anchor in Boston Harbor and dumped their 340 chests of tea cargo into the sea・5The Second Continental Congress: While the alarms of Lexington were still resounding, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, in Independence Hall. The Second Continental Congress agreed to take steps to organize and equip an American army and appointed George Washington commander in chief of the American forces. Congress also provided for asking help from other countries, especially France which was a rival of Britain. All these steps were aimed at preparing for armed struggles to protect their liberties.6The Declaration of Independence: The Declaration of Independence was mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson and was 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 entitledto have some unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It also explained the philosophy of governments: the powers of governments came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of governments was to secure the rights mentioned above. The theory of politics and the guiding principles of the American Revolution mainly came from John Locke・7 Significance of Independence War: The American War of Independence was an event of great historic importance・By smashing the fetters of British rule, it gave the colonies their right to national independence and assured U.S. capitalism of a free development. It was the first large-scale revolutionary movement of a colonial people against national oppression一for political and economic emancipation. The revolution shook the foundation of feudalism all over Europe. It directly led to the French Revolution in 1789 and some fifty years later, to the revolutions in the Spanish colonies in America・The Constitutional Convention: 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 con fere nee is called the Constitutional Convention.The Bill of Rights: In 1789, James Madison introduced in the House ofRepresentatives 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 Great Depression: It took place from 1929 to 1933. In 1929, there swept a "Great crash^^・ The New York Stock Market failed money banks closed down, many shops shut down too. In 1933, 13 million people best their job. Agriculture got worse for the products found no market. Plenty of “extra" goods and products were destroyed.The “New Deal”：When Franklin • D • Roosevelt was elected American President in 1932, American was in the Great Depression. In order to save the situation, he made a program to deal with the economic emergency. This program is known as the "New Deal”. According to the "New Deal", Roosevelt took efforts to consolid the old marker at abroad and also to conquer new ones・ At home, many public projects, were launched to create employment through a huge increase in government responsibility. Crops were destroyed and agriculture production was cut down to stabilize the falling farm prices. The big industries were compelled to make reforms Roosevelt also took some measures of “social security" playi ng pension to the old unemployed and the injured. The "New Deal" relaxed the economic crisis made some concessions to the working people・ The more importantthing is that the Roosevelt Government carried out a progressive foreign policy against fascist aggression and wars.The civil War:It was during 1861 to 1865.The cause: The issue of slavery became the focus in American politics, economics and cultural life. The important point is the contradiction between the two different economic forms. The direct reason is Abraham Lincoln selected the president, the southern states almost immediately began to secede from the Federal Union, and 11 southern states proclaimed themselves an independent nation.The beginning: In 1861, the South opened the 行Te.The process of the Civil War:The first stage (186862 summer): Failure after failure came to the North. The second stage: (1862, 9一1865, 4) In 1862, the Homestead Act was passed・ Lincoln announced the famous Emancipation Proclamation. It provided that all the slaves in the rebel states be freed on January 1, 1863 and they were welcome to join the Union troops・ In July 1863, the turning point of the war came at Gettysburg, the Union army defeated the Confederate army led by General Lee.The third stage: the victory. In 1865, the north defeated the south, and Richmond was abandoned.Influence of the war: Realize the unification of the American nation. Endthe slavery system. Sweep away the last obstacle to the development of U.S. capitalism.。