1、Unit 3,American Beginnings (I),1. What is an American?,J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur: Letters from an American Farmer (1782) 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 behin
2、d him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds.,1. What is an American?,J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur : Letters from an American Farmer (1782) Here individuals of all nations are mel
3、ted 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 upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions.,1.1 J. Hector St. John de Crvecur (1735-1813 ),French writer, known for his wor
4、ks in both French and English describing life in the American colonies around the time of the American Revolution (1775-1783). Crvecoeur served in the French and Indian War (1754-1763) under French commander Marquis de Montcalm and traveled throughout the British colonies of North America. In 1765 h
5、e became a citizen of the colony of New York, and in 1769 he settled on a farm in Orange County, New York.,1.2 Crvecoeurs Works,Under the pseudonym J. Hector St. John he wrote in English the series of essays, Letters from an American Farmer (1782), which provide remarkable details about life in colo
6、nial America and during the early years of the United States. Crvecoeurs Sketches of Eighteenth Century America (1925), a collection of newspaper articles he wrote under the pseudonym Agricola, give further evidence of his vigorous insight into the distinctive character of the United States and the
7、American people.,2. Two Immigration Movements to the New Land (1),The first immigration (about 25000 years ago) Siberian tribes, crossing over the Bering Strait to Alaska, later mistakenly called Indians by Christopher Columbus in 1492; Aboriginal cultures from those of the primitive tribes to the b
8、rilliant civilizations of the Aztecs, the Incas and the Mayas.,2.1.1 Bering Land Bridge,2. Two Immigration Movements to the New Land (2),The second immigration Christopher Columbus discovered for Spain the New World around the Caribbean Sea in 1492, mistaking it for India; John Cabot arrived in Nort
9、h America in 1497, which was later claimed to England. Amerigo Vespucci sailed to South America in 1499, pronouncing the land a new continent, not India, hence the name of the continent.,2.2.1 Early European Explorers,2.2.2 Christopher Columbus (1451-1506),Italian-born explorer Christopher Columbus
10、broke with tradition in 1492, sailing west in an attempt to find a shorter route to India and China. Columbus based his calculations for the journey on Biblical scripture, specifically the books of Esdras in the Apocrypha. On August 3, 1492, Columbus departed from Palos de la Frontera, Spain, on the
11、 first of several voyages to what he later called the “New World.”,2.2.3 John Cabot (1450?-1499),In 1497 Italian navigator John Cabot sailed from England to North America to find a Northwest Passage to Asia. Cabot explored the coasts of present-day Labrador and Newfoundland, becoming the first Europ
12、ean to sight the land since the Vikings about 500 years earlier. Cabots voyage came on the heels of Christopher Columbuss first two voyages to the Caribbean in 1492 and 1493.,2.2.4 Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512),Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci explored the northern shore of South America between 14
13、99 and 1500. The American continent was named in his honor in 1507.,3. Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries (1),The development of capitalism With the fast development of commerce and trade, the bourgeoisie became increasingly powerful in politics as well as in economy. They wanted to share power w
14、ith the feudal lords or even wanted to have more power from the king so that they could have free development.,3. Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries (2),The Renaissance The God-centered world was challenged by the great progress in natural and social science. People began to be more confident in
15、themselves and show more interest in the world about them. Many challenged the authority of the Bible and were willing to observe, experiment and test truths for themselves.,3. Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries (3),The Religious Reformation Martin Luther (1483-1546), German theologian and leader
16、 of the Reformation, declaring 95 Theses in protest against abuses and corruption in the church (indulgence), believing of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ (justification by faith) and through a direct relationship to God.,3. Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries (3),The Religious Reformation John
17、 Calvin (1509-64), French-born Swiss Protestant theologian who founded Presbyterianism in 1536; Calvinism emphasizing salvation by grace alone. King Henry VIII (1509-47), breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church and proclaiming himself the supreme head of the Church of England.,4. Four Colonial
18、Patterns in North America (1),The Settlement in Virginia (1607) 100 out of 144 English men, instructed by King James I to hunt for gold and other wealth, landed in Virginia and built Jamestown in 1607. The plantation of tobacco (John Rolfe) The meeting of the House of Burgesses in 1619, setting the
19、first example of an elected legislature in North America. The beginning of the enslavement of Africans.,4.1.1 Jamestown, Virginia,Jamestown, founded in 1607 on an island in the James River, was the first permanent settlement of English colonists in America.,4.1.2 Marriage Ceremony of John Rolfe to P
20、ocahontas,Jamestown was not only the first permanent English settlement in the New World, it was the spot where Protestant Christian worship was brought to the new land. In fact, Jamestown is the site of the first “interracial” marriage in American history the marriage of Englishman John Rolfe with
21、the converted princess Pocahontas.,4.1.3 The House of Burgesses, Virginia,The Capitol building in Williamsburg, Virginia, in which the House of Burgesses, the Virginia colonial legislature, met during the years that led up to the Revolutionary War.,4. Four Colonial Patterns in North America (2),Puri
22、tan New England (1620) 102 Pilgrim Fathers left for North America and settled at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. “A city upon hill” The sense of mission A strain of often intolerant moralism Puritan salvation and Puritan work ethic Respect of education,4.2.1 John Winthrop (1588-1649),American colon
23、ist, serving as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony for 12 terms, while desiring to make New England “as a city upon a hill”. Along with the colonys other Puritan leaders, Winthrop strongly opposed religious dissenters, as it was his belief that any dissent could subvert the effective governing
24、 of the colony.,4.2.2 First Sermon at Plymouth,The Pilgrims set sail for America from England to escape religious persecution, landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in December 1620. Here, the first sermon took place. Plymouth became the first permanent European settlement in New England.,4.2.3 New En
25、gland Puritans,4.2.4 Plymouth Rock,4. Four Colonial Patterns in North America (3),Catholic Maryland (1632) The 2nd Lord Baltimore introduced a feudal system to his colony of Maryland, which failed since the Protestant settlers soon far outnumbered the Catholics. The Maryland Toleration Act (1649) wa
26、s passed to assure freedom of worship to all who believed in Jesus Christ.,4.3.1 Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore (1605-75),Elder son of the 1st Lord, George Calvert. After his fathers death, the charter for Maryland was issued to Cecilius. Although he never visited the region, he sent settlers
27、there under his brother Leonard Calvert and after its settlement supervised the affairs of the colony from England.As the first lord proprietor of Maryland, Calvert developed the colony as a haven where Roman Catholic and other religious groups could worship without being persecuted.,4.3.2 Religious
28、 Toleration in Maryland,In attempt to protect Catholics, who were a minority in Maryland, Baltimore persuaded the Protestant-dominated assembly in 1649 to enact a toleration policy that granted freedom of worship to all Christians.,4. Four Colonial Patterns in North America (4),Quaker Pennsylvania (
29、1681) William Penn (1644-1718) and the Quakers The Holy Experiment The melting-pot A representative assembly elected by landowners The policy of separation of state and church,4.4.1 Quaker Leader William Penn (1644-1718),William Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania in 1682 with a grant of territo
30、ry he received from King Charles II of England. Penn had written treatises on religion and religious toleration, and he issued a guarantee of religious freedom for his colony. The charter he drew up for the colonys government, which authorized an elected assembly, influenced many future charters, an
31、d possibly even the United States Constitution.,4.4.2 William Penn signing the Peace Treaty with Native Americans,Penns good relationships with the native Americans are legendary and as Voltaire wrote of their treaty with Penn “no oaths were sworn on either side, and the treaty was never broken”.,4.5 North American Colonies: 1650,
