Introduction to British and American Culture
The Conflict between Britain and the American Colonists

Background


The British government started imposing new taxes on sugar, coffee and textiles(纺织业) . They passed many laws such as the Quartering Act(驻军法案) and the Stamp Act(印花税法 ).
Introduction to British and American Culture
感恩节的由来要一直追溯到美国历史的发端。1620年， 著名的“五月花号”船满载不堪忍受英国国内宗教迫害 的清教徒102人到达美洲。1620年和1621年之交的冬天， 他们遇到了难以想像的困难，处在饥寒交迫之中，冬天 过后，活下来的移民只剩50来人。基于“来者是客”的 信念与习俗，印第安人给这些移民送来了生活必需品， 并且教导他们狩猎、捕鱼和种植玉米、南瓜等等生存方 法。在印第安人的帮助下，来自欧陆的新移民逐渐习惯 了在当地的生存方式。在欢庆丰收的日子，欧陆新移民 邀请印第安人一同感谢上天的赐予。许多人认为，美国 第一个感恩节就是印第安人与新移民第一次齐聚感谢上 天赐予的那一天。

Introduction to British and American Culture
The War of Independence
• Time
1775—1783 • Result
– The British sor.
• Consequences
The Founding of the Thirteen Colonies
• During the first 150 years, the British colonies in North America became a ―melting pot‖. • By the early 1760s, English settlers had established 13 colonies along the Atlantic coast.
The First Permanent English Colony
• In 1607 • Three ships crossed the Atlantic Ocean and landed by the side of a river--the James River 杰姆斯河. • The first English colony was founded at Jamestown詹姆斯顿, Virginia 维吉尼亚州.
fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day every year. The celebration of Thanksgiving Day has been observed on that date until today. The pattern of the Thanksgiving celebration has never changed through the years. The big family dinner is planned months ahead. On the dinner table, people will find apples, oranges, walnuts and grapes. There will be plum pudding, mince pie, other varieties of food and cranberry juice and squash. The best and most attractive among them are roast turkey and pumpkin pie. They have been the most traditional and favorite food on Thanksgiving Day throughout the years.
Introduction to British and American Culture
Boston Tea Party 波士顿倾茶事件

Background

In 1773, British government passed a new law--the Tea Act茶叶法. ―No taxation without representation‖
Introduction to British and American Culture
The Birth of the United States


The Conflict between Britain and the American Colonists The War of Independence
In 1620, the settlers, or Pilgrims, After a two-month voyage they landed at in icy November, what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. During their first winter, over half of the settlers died of starvation or epidemics. Those who survived began sowing in the first spring. All summer long they waited for the harvests with great anxiety, knowing that their lives and the future existence of the colony depended on the coming harvest. Finally the fields produced a yield rich beyond expectations. And therefore it was decided that a day of thanksgiving to the Lord be fixed. Years later, President of the United States proclaimed the
Introduction to British and American Culture
Before the Colonial Period
1.在两万多年前, 有一批来自亚洲的流浪者,经由北美到 中南美洲,这些人就是印第安人Indians的祖先。 2.大约1万年前, 又有另一批亚洲人, 移居到北美北部, 这是后来的爱斯基摩人Eskimo 3.最早到美洲的白种人大概是维京人 the Vikings, 他 们是一群喜好冒险的捕渔人。 4.1492年10月12日 哥伦布发现美洲大陆 （十五世纪） 。
– George Washington became the first President. – The 4th of July became the national holiday of America--- the Independence Day.
Introduction to British and American Culture
A Brief History of the United States
Introduction
• • • • • • The Discovery of America The War of Independence Westward Expansion The American Civil War The Great Depression The World War II
Boston Tea Party 波士顿倾茶事件

Time

December 16, 1773

Event
A group of Americans threw 342 boxes of tea into Boston Harbor(波士顿港） 波士顿倾茶事件（Boston Tea Party) 英国议会大怒，通过一系列被殖民地视为不可容忍的 法令。英王对北美人民反抗的血腥镇压，使殖民地 人民与英国王室和解的幻想彻底破灭，“要求独立” 成为北美殖民地人民的普遍呼声。
The Declaration of Independence 独立宣言
On July 4, 1776 the Second Continental Congress officially declared independence and formed the United States of America by adopting the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson 托马斯· 杰斐逊of Virginia维吉尼亚. Thomas Jefferson an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. 美利坚合众国第三任总统(1801年—1809年)
今天，在美国人心目中，感恩节是比圣诞节还要重要的 节日。首先，它是一个长达4 天的假日，足以使人们尽 情狂欢、庆祝。其次，它也是传统的家庭团聚的日子。 感恩节期间，散居在他乡外地的家人，都要赶回家过节 ，这已经成了全国性的习俗。此外，美国人一年中最重 视的一餐，就是感恩节的晚宴。在美国这个生活节奏很 快，竞争激烈的国度里，平日的饮食极为简单。美国的 快餐流行世界，就是一个很好的说明。但在感恩节的夜 晚，家家户户都大办筵席，物品之丰盛，令人咋舌。在 节日的餐桌上，上至总统，下至庶民，火鸡和南瓜饼都 是必备的。这两味“珍品”体现了美国人民忆及先民开 拓艰难、追思第一个感恩节的怀旧情绪。因此，感恩节 也被称为“火鸡节”。