1、American Beginnings,What is an American? letters from an American farmer by Crevecoeur The American is a new man ,who acts upon new principles;he must therefore entertain new ideas,and form new opinions.,The New World,The American continents were peopled as a result of two long-continuing immigratio
2、n movements: The first from Asia The continent peopled first by Siberian tribes about 25,000 years ago crossing the Bering Strait to Alaska over 10-20 million people,called Indians mistakenly,they developed their own aboriginal culture.,The New World,The second from Europe and Africa (from 16th cent
3、ury)16th century expansion of Europe 1492 Columbus discovery (Bahama Islands) 1497 John Cabot (Canada) 17th Permanent settlements,Europe in the 16th and 17th Centuries,Background:In the 17th century, western Europe was undergoing great changes. Europe was under the single spiritual authority of the
4、Roman Catholic Church.,Europe in the 16th and 17th Centuries,Some new and powerful social forces: The first major force: the development of capitalismthe bourgeois class and the working class. The English Revolution was the result of this growth of capitalism. the second major force: Renaissance mor
5、e confident and more interest in the world,Europe in the 16th and 17th Centuries,The third influential force was the Religious ReformationAgainst the background of those emerging new forces, the 13 English colonies that would become the United States of America were planted in North America.,The Set
6、tlement in Virginia,The first English permanent settlement was founded in 1607 in Virginia. This was organized by the London Company with a charter from the English King James I.,The Settlement in Virginia,Two Important Events in Virginia: the elected delegate and the governor and his appointed coun
7、cil member discuss the enactment of laws for the colony. a Dutch ship brought in over 20 Negroes, thus a start had been made toward the enslavement of Africans.,Puritan New England,由来： 自16世纪上半叶开始的宗教改革运动席卷了整个欧洲大地，德国的马丁路德、法国的加尔文成为改教后基督教新教的领袖。在当时的英国，由于英国国教的专横，宗教改革姗姗来迟，但英国教徒们还是受到了来自加尔文教义的影响。1524年，英国人丁道尔
8、把新约圣经翻译成英文，他可以说是英国的第一位清教徒。早期清教徒希望完全按照圣经的原则生活，顺服圣经的教导可说是他们的首要任务。如丁道尔的目标就是让英国每位识字的人都拥有一本圣经。历史上，将在英国的新教徒，那些信奉加尔文教义、不满英国国教教义的人称为清教徒。而由于英国的宗教迫害，大部分清教徒都逃亡到了美国，所以人们说起清教徒，一般指的就是美国的清教徒。,Puritan legacies,The Puritans hopes to build “a city upon hill”(山巅之城)an ideal community, since that time, many Americans ho
9、ld a strong sense of mission of viewing their country as a great experiment, a worthy model for other nations. A strain of often intolerant moralism The American values such as individualism, hard work, respect of education owe very much to the Puritan beliefs.,Catholic Maryland,The founder was Lord
10、 Baltimore II.His father had the experience of being suppressed for his Catholic beliefs and witnessed the persecution of his fellow Catholics. In 1623, he was granted a charter from the king and was allowed to set up a colony in todays Maryland. his son carried out his fathers will and became the o
11、wner of the colony.,Catholic Maryland,Lord Baltimore II wished to introduce a feudal system.with the increasing number of Protestant, his plan was dropped for majority of Protestant were capitalistic-minded, and the wildernessof North America provide plenty of land while labor was scarce, Maryland u
12、ltimately followed a capitalist developing road.,Quaker Pennsylvania,Beliefs: people could communicate directly with God because everyone had an inner lightPlace of worship: meeting place; anywhere,William Penns plan,He encouraged the spirit of liberty and equality. He set no restrictions on immigra
13、tion, and naturalization was easier for non English people.melting potHe also established a liberal self-governmentHe also carried out the policy of separation of state and church in his colony.,The American Revolution,By early 1760s 13 English colonies 1689-1815 wars between France and Britain 1756
14、 Seven Years War 1763 Peace of Paris 1773 Boston Tea Party September 1774 First Continental Congress April 19, 1775 the first shot,The American Revolution,May 1775 second Continental Congress-assume functions of a national government July 4, 1776 adoption of Declaration of Independence 1781 end of war 1783 Treaty of Paris,Thanks,
