英美概况期末考试名词解释整理
《英美概况》名词解释

《英美概况》名词解释《英美概况》名词解释1.backbone of England : It refers to the Pennines in England. The Pennines extend from north to south, from upland to Derbyshire.2.the act of 1801: In the year of 1801, the parliament passed the act to agree that Ireland joined the kingdom. From then on, Britain got the name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Britain includes England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.3.the Bank of England: It is the center of the British financial system. It was founded in 1694 and nationalized in 1946.4.Invisible Trade: It refers to a kind of unseen and unobvious trade. It includes the profits, dividend and capital investment.5.Black country: It refers to the industrial area in the west midland and Birmingham is the center. The area is very rich but is heavily polluted.6.Hadrian’s Wall: In 122AD, the Romans built a wall in order to defend Picts and Scots. The wall is very long, from Solway to Tyne; we call it Hadri an’s Wall.7.Julius Caesar:The king of Rome. In 55-54BC, he led his army invaded Britain twice.8. King Alfred: He is the king of Wessex in Britain. In the 8th century, he led the British people defeated the Danes and Vikings, and he was considered the first national hero. He wrote Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. (盎格鲁-撒克逊编年史)9. William the Conqueror: One the Christmas Day of 1066, French man William defeated the British King Harold at Hastings. In Westminster Abbey, he was crowned the King of Britain, so the Norman Conquest began. He established a strong monarchy inEngland, and unified the country. In 1086, he and his officials made a book about the survey of Britain, which is called Doomsday Book.10. Battle of Hastings: One the Christmas Day of 1066, at Hastings, French man William defeated the British King Harold, and Harold was killed. The battle was called Battle of Hastings. The battle of Hastings paved a way for the Norman Conquest.11. Henry : In the year of 1154, Henry built the Plantagenet and when he was a king, he made the monarchy stronger than before. He made a set of reformation and in the year of 1181, he issued the Assize of Arms. He died in 1189.24. O’liver Cromwell: He is a famous man in the British history. During the civil war, he and his “New M odel Army”defeated the King’s army. In 1649, he killed Charles . In 1653, he became Lord Protector and later compressed the Diggers.25. new model army: It is the new kind of army led by Oliver Cromwell in the civil war. The army includes farmers, craftsman, undermasters (学徒) etc.26.the Treaty of Paris in 1763: The treaty is between England and France. It includes four points. According to the treaty, France gave up many colonies, for example, it gave up the controlling on India, and Britain became the chief/leading colonial power.27. the House of Hanover: George began the House of Hanover in the year of 1714, and the Cabinet System was established and monarch was controlled by the Parliament.28.28. the Treaty of Paris in 1783 : The treaty is between Britain and America. In the treaty the Britain admitted the independence of America.29. the Corn Laws: It refers to a set of laws to regulate thecorn trade, for example: to increase the price of corn imported in 1815. The Corn Laws were cancelled in 1848.30. the Peterloo Massacre: In August 1819, a organization was founded in Manchester to demand universal suffrage, and yearly Parliament and the cancellation of Corn Laws. The government suppressed it and 11 died with so many people wounded. This is called the Peterloo Massacre.31. the Reform Bill: The Bill was brought up by Whig in 1832. It made 3 changes in election system. (1) many “rotten boroughs” are cancelled (2)many new seats (席位) were given to the most populous (人口稠密的) countries. (3) the total elec torates increased to 217000. But working class still didn’t have to right to vote. 32. the Chartist Movement: 1839-1848, the working class in Britain had a movement to realize the “people’s charter” , in fact , they wanted to have the universal suffrage. The chartist had two groups : moral force and physical force. At last, the Chartist Movement failed, but the working class entered the history stage for the first as an independent political force.33. the Opium War: In 1840, the Chinese government issueda law to stop the importing opium from Britain, to the Britain launched a war. The Qing Government surrendered (投降) to the Britain and signed the unequal Treaty :Nanjing Treaty in 1842.34. the Fabian Society :It was founded in 1883-1884. It included the famous men such as G.B.Shaw andH.G.Wells, who played an important role in 20th century labour party.35.the Statute of Westminster: It was passed in 1931 and it gave the legislative recognition to the relation between British Kingdom her dominions. The dominions are independent in allaspects except the name.36. NATO: It is the acronym for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, it is founded in 1949.37. Margaret Thatcher: She was the first woman Prime Minister in British history. She was in power from 1979-1990. She was called “iron lady”because she controlled Britain’s money policy tightly. She made Britain prosperous in the 1980s.38.Downing Street Declaration: It is a document between Britain and Ireland in 1993. According to the Downing Street Declaration, the future of Northern Ireland shold depend on the wished of majority.39.BBC: Its full name is British Broadcast Co-operation. It was established in 1922, it has 4 radio channels, and the programs are broadcasted in 39 languages. There is no advertisement in BBC programs, the money is from the people who watch the TV.40.GCE: Its full name is General Certificate Education. It refers to the exam of the secondary middle school, if the students can pass the exam, he can get the GCE.41.Reuters: Ruters is one of the 4 news agencies in the West, it was founded in 1851, it has 11000 employees and 1300 photographers and reporters in more than 80 countries.42. the Royal Society: It is a British organization to study science and one of the most famous scientific organizations in the world. It was founded in 1660 and Issac Newton was its president for 23 years.43. Whitehall: It is the most important street in London, some of the government offices are in Whitehall, such as: Home Office, Finance Office, etc.44. St. Paul’s Cathedral: the biggest and most well-known church in London , a typical(典型的) building of Renaissance(文艺复兴).45.Westminster Abbey: It is a national shrine. Many famous literary persons or scientific persons are buried here. In 1066, William the Conqueror crowned himself in the Westminster Abbey.46.John Bull: the nickname of England or a typical English man.47.Speaker: the presiding officer(leader) of the House of Commons in British.48.Hollidays:(1) Christmas Day: It is on 25th, Dec to celebrate the birth of Jesus. On Christmas Day, people will go home from far places, eat Turkey with families, and children will get the present from Christmas Father.(2) Boxing Day: It is on the first weekday after Christmas. It isa public holiday in England, Wale andNorthern Ireland. On Boxing Day, household employees or other service workers can receive some gifts.(3) Guy Fawkes Day: It is a day to celebrate a event in English history. A man Guy Fawkes wanted to blow up(炸平) the parliament in 5th , Nov and he was caught in the House of Commons.(4) Armistice Day: The day is also called Remembrance Day. It is a patriotic day on 11th, Nov, to remember the British or foreigners who died in World War Two.49. Protestantism: a main group of Christianity, separated from the Roman Catholic Church by the Reformation in 1534.50.Salvation Army: one of the main nonconformist denominations, founded in London in 1865,They preach the story of Jesus Christ, and do social work to help the poor and sick.They are almost military.51. Parliament : It refers to the legislature(立法机构) in Britain. The parliament has 3 parts: the Crown, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.52. House of Lords: It is the oldest part in Parliament which comes from the Great Council. The House of Lords doesn’t have real power. Normally speaking, the House of Lords can stop the law passing into the legislation, but after 1949, the House of Lords can not can stop the law passing into the legislation.53. the House of Commons: The House of Commons has 650 seats. The members of it are not pointed but are elected.. It has the real power. Strong part of the House Commons forms the government, the weak part of the House Commons forms the Opposition. The leader of the House of Commons is called Speaker/President of Chamber.54. Opposition: The weak part of the House Commons forms the Opposition. They criticize the government or government’s policy, and give their new policies.55.Scotland Yard: It is the headquarters(总部) of Criminal Investigation Department in London. It has a history of 150 years. It does criminal detection, police training etc.55.the Mississippi River :It is the longest and most important river in the USA, and one of the greatest river in the world. It has two branches: Missouri and Ohio. It is 6262 km long.56.the five Great Lakes: the five Great Lakes are in the place between America and Canada. They are: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.57.the Niagara Falls: It refers to the Falls between Erie and Ontario in North America, 1240m wide, and 49m deep. Every year, thousands of visitors come here to enjoy it.58.Yellow Stone National Park: It is located in the northwest of Wyoming. It is the oldest national park in the world. A great number of wildlife live there.59.Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon lies in Arizonan, it is the one of the wonders(奇迹)in the world. Its wall has many layers, which tells you the story of the earth formation.60.Old Faithful: It is the most famous geyser(火山)in Yellow Stone National Park. It erupts more than 100 feet in the air every 73min.61. Pearl Harbor: It is the base of the Pacific Fleet of the USA, near the city Honolulu in Hawaii.62. Microsoft: It is the most famous computer company founded in 1975 by Bill Gates. Now, it plays animportant role in the world.63. Christopher Columbus: He was an Italian; he believed that the earth is round. In 1492, he discoveredAmerica and in 1498 he discovered the main land of South America.64. The Stamp Act: When Britain controlled the America, it issued a law: the stamp paper must be used forlegal documents. It was passed in 1765 and stopped in 1766.65. the Boston Massacre: In 1770, a little boy in Boston threwa small stone to the British soldiers, and Britishsoldiers fired at the people, with 4 died and many wounded. After it, the American people united together to fight against the British army./doc/75fb562ca8114431b80dd82b.ht ml mittees of Correspondence: In 1772, the Boston town meeting appointed “Committees ofCorrespondence”to call people to unite together to fightagainst the British army.67. the Boston Tea Act: When Britain controlled America, according to the“Tea Act”, East Indian Companyexported tea to America to make money. In 1773, some Boston men got on the English ship and poured the tea into the sea. The Boston Tea Act showed the fighting spirit of Americans.68. the First Continental Congress: It was held in 1714 in Philadelphia. The leaders in the Congress agreed that they wouldn’t buy any goods from England until the objectional law was stopped.69. the Second Continental Congress: It was held in 1715 in Philadelphia. The leaders in the Congress agreedto sent army around Boston and made George Washington as the commander.70. the Articles of the Confederation: At the end of the Independent War, the people meet a question. How the United States should be governed? So a constitution(the Articles of the Confederation)was made. In 1781, it was accepted by all the states.71. the Sedition Act: It was made by John Adam, any one should n’t stir up the hatred to the government. It was opposed by Republican Party, and was stopped by Jefferson in 1800.72. Monroe Doctrine: It was made by President Monroe in 1823. “America is American’s America”.According to the doctrine, European countries shouldn’t open any colony in North America or South America, and shouldn’t interfere the everything in America. And America shouldn’t open any colony in Europe, and shouldn’t interfere the everything in Europe.73. Westward Movement: In the early time of 19th century, more Europeans immigrated to America to find abetter life, but in the northeast, they found themselves still poor. So the farmers without land and workers without work went to the west part. Now, the west part is developed and wild land is farmed.74. Douglas’ Bill: It is a bill made by Douglas, a person in senate. According to the bill, the slavery is possiblein some states, e.g.: Kentucky or Nebraska.75. Republican Party: The Party was founded in 1854; the members of this party were against the slavery.Lincoln is the famous leader from this party.76. Abraham Lincoln: In 1860, Lincoln was elected president. He played an important role in the Civil Warand made two important documents: Homestead Bill, and Emancipation Proclamation. In 1864, he was elected for the second time. He was killed in 1865.77. the Confederate Union: After Lincoln was elected as president in 1860, the seven southern states, set up a country “the Confederate Union”. They wanted to keep the slavery in it.78. Homestead Bill: It is one of the documents by Lincoln, according to the bill, the farmers and settlers gotenough land. So Lincoln got their support and the agriculture in the South developed.79. “Open Door Policy”: It is the policy which is made by Theodore Roosevelt in Chinese-American relation.By the policy, American invaded China by force and culture.80. the American Federation of Labor : the first national union in America .81. the League of Nations: According to Wilson’s Fourteen Points, the League of Nations is set up to keep theworld peace. But it is controlled by England and France.82. the Washington Conference : In 1921,China , America and other countries held a meeting in Washington,and this is called the Washington Conference. The Washington Conference strengthened the power of Far East and Pacific Area.83. the Great Depression: It happened 1929-1933. In 1929, the New York Stock Market failed, many factoriesclosed down, many workers lost jobs, many products found no markets. Many extra goods were destroyed.84. the New Deal: It was made by Franklin?D?Roosevelt in 1932. According to the deal, in the country, manypublic projects were made to increase the employment; at broad, American strengthened the old market andfound new market.85. Franklin·D·Roosevelt:He was a member of Democratic Party and was the 32nd president in America.During 1929-1933, he made a New Deal, and made many contributions in WW.86.the Battle of Midway Island: In the Battle of Midway Island, America defeated the Japanese United Fleet.This is the turning point of the Pacific War.87. NATO: The full name is North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was set up in 1949. the main purpose was toform a political cooperation to fight against Russia.88. the Warsaw Pact: It was set up in 1955, the main purpose was to form a political cooperation to fightagainst NATO.89. the United Nations: In 1945, 48 countries had a meeting in San Francisco, they agreed to set up aorganization to keep the world peace. So the United Nations was founded.90.Trueman Doctrine: The Doctrine was made by President Truman in 1947. The purpose of the Doctrine was :expand the influence of America suppress the struggle of the different countries.91.the Eisenhower Doctrine(重点) : It was the foreign policy carried by the Eisenhower Government. The doctrine contains the point of instant and massive retaliation(迅速的大量的复仇), and avoid the frustrating war(阻碍发展的战争),such as the Korean War.92. the Marshall Plan (此题去年考过): The plan was suggested by Secretary of State George Marshall in 1947.The plan offered a great deal of money and machines to European countries to help them to recover their economy.93. the Cold War: It refers to the severe struggle between the America and other opposed political systems. TheCold War is not friendly, but didn’t use weapon.94. the sit-in(静坐): It is the way which is used by the Black men to fight against the racial segregation in1960s ( 它是1960年代黑人反抗种族隔离而采用的方式)95. Martin Luther King: He was a famous leader in the Civil Right Movement in America in 1950s-1960s. Hewas a clergyman. He organized the Montgomery blacks and changed it into Montgomery Improvement Association. He led the famous Civil Right Movement in 1960s. Under his leading, in 1964 the Civil Right Act was passed, in 1965 the V oting Right Act was passed. In 1968, he was killed.96. the Civil Right Movement : In 1950s-1960s, the American black men made the Civil Right Movement tofight against segregation. Martin Luther King was a famous leader in the Civil Right Movement in America in 1950s-1960s. He was a clergyman. He organized the Montgomery blacks and changed it into Montgomery Improvement Association. He led the famous Civil Right Movement in 1960s. Under his leading, in 1964 the Civil Right Act was passed, in 1965 the V oting Right Act was passed. In 1968, he was killed.97.Desert Storm(沙漠风暴行动) : American military attacked Iraq because Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1991. The air attack lasted for 6 weeks, and Iraq was forced to leave Kuwait. The war costs 61billion dollars.98. NASA It refers to National Astronautics and Space Administration.99. double dating : Two young people go out together to have a dance, to see a football game, or to have apicnic before the marriage.100.drive-in : a kind of informal eating place which is surrounded by the parking lots, by a busy road.101. a cafeteria : a kind of informal eating place in which you can buy some quick and cheap meal. You can select the food as you are going along.102. diner: It refers to the little restaurant just like a railway car. The diver is very convenient and the price is very low. Drivers , students and other people like it very much..103.Quakers: The other name of this group is Society of Friends. It is a small group with 100000 members.They are not interested in Politics and they often go out to help others without any reward. People respect them very much.104.The People’s Temple: It is a small group which was founded by Jones, Jones used superstition to control people’s spirit, once people joined this group, he couldn’t come out. In 1978, 914people(including Jones and his wife)committed suicide.105.New morality: In the 1960’s-1970’s, the young people showed their new morality. They lived together before the marriage and had the sexual action.106. the city of Heroin : it refers to New York, many people take heroin in New York.107. Chief Justice : the head of the Supreme Court in the USA.108.white collar workers: it refers to the mental labor workers. They have a higher social position and social fame than blue collar workers , but their pay is lower than blue collar workers.109. the separation of powers: In USA, the government has 3 branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.Each branch has its own power and its power is limited by others.110. The Republican Party: It came into being in 1854. It is made up of northern capitalists who opposed the slavery.111.The Democratic Party: It came out of “Anti-Federalists”in 1787. It was founded in 1828, and the leader is Thomas Jefferson.112.St.V alentine’s Day: It is on 14th, Feb. On the day, the boys and girls in love will come out to have a date, send red roses or chocolate. The symbol of St.Valentine’s Day is a picture of a Heart and Cupid, Cupid hasa bow and arrow.113.Easter Day : It is on the first Sunday after the full moon, in March.. People , in this day , will celebrate the rebirth of Jesus.Children will dye the eggs and adults will kill lamb to eat.114 Halloween Day: It is on 31st, Oct. It is a night-time festival, which is held by children. On the Halloween Day children will wear a mask to frighten the parents and ask money from their parents. In 1950s, child sent the money to the poor countries’ children. The Halloween Day got Noble Peace Prize in 1965.115.Independence Day : It is the national day of the USA,on 4th, July.III. Explain the following terms.1. the Hardian’s Wall:It was one of the two great walls built by the Romans to keep the Picts out of the area they had conquered.2. Alfred the GreatAlfred was a strong king of the wisemen. It was created by the Anglo-Saxons to advise the king. It’s the basis of the Privy Council which still exists today.3. William the ConquerorWilliam was Duke of Normandy. He landed his army in Oct, 1066 and defeated king Harold. Then he was crown ed king of England on Christams Day the same year. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.4. the battle of HastingsIn 1066, King Edward died with no heir, the Witan chose Harold as king. William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. On October 14, the two armies met near Hasting. After a day’s battle, Harold was killed and his army completely defeated. So this battle was very important on the way of the Roman conquest.5. Domesday BookUnder William, the feudal system was established. William sent officials to compile a property record known as DomesdayBook, which completed in 1086. It was the result of a general survey of England made in 1085. It stat ed the extent, value, the population, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It seemed to the English like t he Book of doom on Judgement Day.6. the Great CharterKing John’s reign caused much discontent among the barons. In 1215, he was forced to sign a document, known as Mangna Cara, or the Great Charter. It has 63 clauses. Though it has long been regarded as the foundation of English liberi ties, its spirit was the limitation of the king’s powers, keeping them within the bounds of the feudal law of the land.7. the Hundred Years’ WarIt referred to the intermittent war between France and England that last from 1337 to 1453. The causes were partl y territorial and partly economic. When Edward III claimed the French Crown but the French refused to recogniz e, the war broke out. At first the English were successful, but in the end, they were defeated and lost almost all th eir possessions in France. The expelling of the English was a blessing for both countries.8. Joan of ArcShe was a national heroine of France during the Hundred Years’ War. She successfully led the French to drive t he English out of France.9. the Black DeathIt was the deadly bubonic plague who spread through Europe in the 14th century. It swept through England witho ut warning and any cure, and sparing no victims. It killed between half and one-third of the population of England. Thus, much land was left untended and labour was short. It caused far-reaching economic consequences.10. the Wars of RosesThey referred to the battles between the House of Lancaster and the House of York between 1455 and 1485. The former was symbolized by the red rose, and the latter by the white one. After the wars, feudalism received its dea th blow and the king’s power became supreme. Thdor monarchs ruled England and Wales for over two hundred years.11. Bloody MaryHenry VIII’s daughter and a devout Catholic. When she became Queen, she persecuted and burnt many Protestants. So she w as given the nickname “Bloody Mary”. Mary is also remembered as the monarch who lost the French port of Calais.12. Elizabeth IOne of the greatest monarchs in British history. She reigned England, Wales and Ireland for 45 years and remaine d single. Her reign was a time of confident English nationalism and of great achievements in literature and other arts, in exploration and in battle.13. Oliver CromwellThe leader during the Civil War who led the New Model Army to defeat the king and condemned him to death. T hen he declared England a Commonwealth and made himself Lord of Protector. He ruled England till the restorat ion of charles II in 1660.14. the Bill of RightsIn 1689, William and Mary accepted the Bill of Rights to be crowned jointly. The bill excluded any Roman Cath olic from the succession, confirmed the principle of parliamentary supremacy and guaranteed free speech withinboth the two Houses. Thus the age of constitutionalmonarchy began.15. Whigs and ToriesIt referred to the two party names which originated with the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The Whigs were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Noncomformists. The Tories w ere those who supported hereditary monarchy and were reluctant to remove kings. The Whigs formed a coalition with dissident Tories and became the Liberal Party. The T ories were the forerunners of the Conservative Party.16. James WattThe Scottish inventor who produced an efficient steam engine with rotary motion that could be applied to textile and other machinery.17. Winston ChurchillPrime Minister of Britain during the Second World War. He took over Chamberlain in 1940 and received massive popular support. He led his country to final victory in 1945. He was defeated in the general election of 1945, but returned to power in 1951.18. AgribusinessIt refers to the new farming in Britain, because it’s equipped and managed like an industrial business with a set of inputs into the farm of processes which occur on the farm, and outputs or products which leave the farm. The emphasis is upon intensive farming, designes to give the maximum output of crops and animals.19. the British ConstitutionThere is no written constitution in the United Kingdom. TheBritish Constitution is not set out in any single docu ment, but made up of statute law, common law and conventions. The Judiciary determines common law and inter pret statues.20. Queen Elizabeth IIThe present Sovereign, born in 1926, came to the throne in 1952 and was crowned in 1953. The Queen is the sy mbol of the whole nation, the center of many national ceremonies and the leader of society.21. the OppositionIn the General Election, the party which wins the second largest number of seats becomes the offcial Opposition, with its own leader and “shadow cabinet”. The aims of the Opposition are to contribute to the formulation of p olicy and legislation, to oppose government proposals, to seek amendments to government bills, and to put forwa rd its own policies in order to win the next general election.22. the Privy CouncilFormerly the chief source of executive power. It gave the Sovereign private (“privy”) advice on the governme nt of the country. Today its role is mainly formal, advising the Sovereign to approve certain government decrees and issuing royal proclamation. Its membership is about 400.23. common lawA written law gathered from numerous decisions of the courts and other sources.24. the juryA legal system established in England since king Henry II. The jury consists of ordinary, independent citizens su mmoned by the court: 12 persons in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 15 persons in Scotland. In crimina l trials by jury, the judge passessentence but the jury decide the issue of guilt or innocence.25. the NHSThe National Health Service was established in the UK in 1948 and based first on Acts of Parliament. This Servi ce provides for every resident a full range of medical services. It is based upon the principle that there should be f ull range of publicly provided services designed to help the individual stay healthy. It is now a largely free service.26. comprehensive schoolsState secondary schools which take pupils without reference to ability and provide a wide-ranging secondary edu cation for all or most of the children in a district. About 90 per cent of the state secondary school population in GB attend comprehensive school.27. public schoolsFee-paying secondary schools which are longestablished and have gained a reputation for their high academic sta ndards, as well as their exclusiveness and snobbery. The boys’ public schools include such well-known schools as Eton and Harrow, and gi rls’ famous schools include Roedean. Most of the members of the British Establish ment were educated at a public school.28. the Great LakesThe Great Lakes are the most important lakes in the United States. They are Lake Superior, which is the largest fr esh water lake in the world, Lake Michigan —— the only one entirely in the U.S. ——Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. They are all located between Canada and the United States except L ake Michigan.。
英美概况名词解释

名词解释:1.Great Britain: shortened as Britain ,it can be a geographical term ,referring to the island onwhich England ,Wales and Scotland are situated ,together with numerous smaller islands .2.The Union Flag :also known as the Union Jack ,it is the national flag of the United Kingdom .3.God Save the King /Queen : the national anthem of the United Kingdom.ke Poets: English poets at the turn of the 19th century who lived in the Lake District ofEngland and were inspired by it to create romantic works .5.Domesday Book(土地财产清册):The written record of a census and survey of Englishlandowners and their property made by order of William the Conqueror in 1085-1086 .6.Black Death (黑死病):also known as the Black Plague ,it was a devastating pandemic(流行的) that first struck European in the mid-14th century .7.Gunpowder Plot(火药阴谋):conspiracy of a group of English Catholics to blow up the Houseof Parliament where King James I was present on 5 November ,1605.The plan was discovered and Guy Frank was caught and burnt alive .In England ,5 November is celebrated with bonfire ,fireworks and the burning of the effigies.(肖像)。
英美概况名词解释和大题

III. Explain the following terms.1. the Hardian’s Wall:It was one of the two great walls built by the Romans to keep the Picts out of the area they had conquered.2. Alfred the GreatAlfred was a strong king of the wisemen. It was created by the Anglo-Saxons to advise the king. It’s the basis of the Privy Council which still exists today.3. William the ConquerorWilliam was Duke of Normandy. He landed his army in Oct, 1066 and defeated king Harold. Then he was crowned king of England on Christams Day the same year. He established a strong Norman government and the feudal system in England.4. the battle of HastingsIn 1066, King Edward died with no heir, the Witan chose Harold as king. William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. On October 14, the two armies met near Hasting. After a day’s battle, Harold was killed and his army completely defeated. So this battle was very important on the way of the Roman conquest.5. Domesday BookUnder William, the feudal system was established. William sent officials to compile a property record known as Domesday Book, which completed in 1086. It was the result of a general survey of England made in 1085. It stated the extent, value, the population, state of cultivation, and ownership of the land. It seemed to the English like the Book of doom on Judgement Day.6. the Great CharterKing John’s reign caused much discontent among the barons. In 1215, he was forced to sign a document, known as Mangna Cara, or the Great Charter. It has 63 clauses. Though it has long been regarded as the foundation of English liberities, its spirit was the limitation of the king’s powers, keeping them within the bounds of the feudal law of the land.7. the Hundred Years’ WarIt referred to the intermittent war between France and England that last from 1337 to 1453. The causes were partly territorial and partly economic. When Edward III claimed the French Crown but the French refused to recognize, the war broke out. At first the English were successful, but in the end, they were defeated and lost almost all their possessions in France. The expelling of the English was a blessing for both countries.8. Joan of ArcShe was a national heroine of France during the Hundred Years’ War. She successfully led the French to drive the English out of France.9. the Black DeathIt was the deadly bubonic plague who spread through Europe in the 14th century. It swept through England without warning and any cure, and sparing no victims. It killed between half and one-third of the population of England. Thus, much land was left untended and labour was short. It caused far-reaching economic consequences.10. the Wars of RosesThey referred to the battles between the House of Lancaster and the House of York between 1455 and 1485. The former was symbolized by the red rose, and the latter by the white one. After the wars, feudalism received its death blow and the king’s power became supreme. Thdor monarchs ruled England and Wales for over two hundred years.11. Bloody MaryHenry VIII’s daughter and a devout Catholic. When she became Queen, she persecuted and burnt many Protestants. So she was given the nickname “Bloody Mary”. Mary is also remembered as the monarch who lost the French port of Calais.12. Elizabeth IOne of the greatest monarchs in British history. She reigned England, Wales and Ireland for 45 years and remained single. Her reign was a time of confident English nationalism and of great achievements in literature and other arts, in exploration and in battle.13. Oliver CromwellThe leader during the Civil War who led the New Model Army to defeat the king and condemned him to death. Then he declared England a Commonwealth and made himself Lord of Protector. He ruled England till the restoration of charles II in 1660.14. the Bill of RightsIn 1689, William and Mary accepted the Bill of Rights to be crowned jointly. The bill excluded any Roman Catholic from the succession, confirmed the principle of parliamentary supremacy and guaranteed free speech within both the two Houses. Thus the age of constitutional monarchy began.15. Whigs and ToriesIt referred to the two party names which originated with the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The Whigs were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Noncomformists. The Tories were those who supported hereditary monarchy and were reluctant to remove kings. The Whigs formed a coalition with dissident Tories and became the Liberal Party. The Tories were the forerunners of the Conservative Party.16. James WattThe Scottish inventor who produced an efficient steam engine with rotary motion that could be applied to textile and other machinery.17. Winston ChurchillPrime Minister of Britain during the Second World War. He took over Chamberlain in 1940 and received massive popular support. He led his country to final victory in 1945. He was defeated in the general election of 1945, but returned to power in 1951.18. AgribusinessIt refers to the new farming in Britain, because it’s equipped and managed like an industrial business with a set of inputs into the farm of processes which occur on the farm, and outputs or products which leave the farm. The emphasis is upon intensive farming, designes to give the maximum output of crops and animals.19. the British ConstitutionThere is no written constitution in the United Kingdom. The British Constitution is not set out in any single document, but made up of statute law, common law and conventions. The Judiciary determines common law and interpret statues.20. Queen Elizabeth IIThe present Sovereign, born in 1926, came to the throne in 1952 and was crowned in 1953. The Queen is the symbol of the whole nation, the center of many national ceremonies and the leader of society.21. the OppositionIn the General Election, the party which wins the second largest number of seats becomes the offcial Opposition, with its own leader and “shadow cabinet”. The aims of the Opposition are to contribute tothe formulation of policy and legislation, to oppose government proposals, to seek amendments to government bills, and to put forward its own policies in order to win the next general election.22. the Privy CouncilFormerly the chief source of executive power. It gave the Sovereign private (“privy”) advice on the government of the country. Today its role is mainly formal, advising the Sovereign to approve certain government decrees and issuing royal proclamation. Its membership is about 400.23. common lawA written law gathered from numerous decisions of the courts and other sources.24. the juryA legal system established in England since king Henry II. The jury consists of ordinary, independent citizens summoned by the court: 12 persons in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 15 persons in Scotland. In criminal trials by jury, the judge passes sentence but the jury decide the issue of guilt or innocence.25. the NHSThe National Health Service was established in the UK in 1948 and based first on Acts of Parliament. This Service provides for every resident a full range of medical services. It is based upon the principle that there should be full range of publicly provided services designed to help the individual stay healthy. It is now a largely free service.26. comprehensive schoolsState secondary schools which take pupils without reference to ability and provide a wide-ranging secondary education for all or most of the children in a district. About 90 per cent of the state secondary school population in GB attend comprehensive school.27. public schoolsFee-paying secondary schools which are longestablished and have gained a reputation for their high academic standards, as well as their exclusiveness and snobbery. The boys’ public schools include such well-known schools as Eton and Harrow, and girls’ famous s chools include Roedean. Most of the members of the British Establishment were educated at a public school.28. the Great LakesThe Great Lakes are the most important lakes in the United States. They are Lake Superior, which is the largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Michigan —— the only one entirely in the U.S. —— Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. They are all located between Canada and the United States except Lake Michigan.29. New EnglandNew England is made up of six states of the North-East. They are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It is sometimes called the birthplace of America. 30. baby boom“baby boom” refers to the great increase of birth rate between 1946 and 1964. People born in this period are called baby bammers31. the Chinese Exclusion ActIt was passed by the U.S. Congress in may, 1882. It stopped Chinese immigration for ten years. 32. the Bill of RightsIn 1789, James Madison introduced in the House of Representations 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 became the first ten amendments to the Constitution —— the Bill of Rights.33. the Emancipation ProclamationDuring the Civil war, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to get more support for the Union at home and abroad. It granted freedom to all slaves.34. the Constitutional ConventionIn 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 conference is called the Constitutional Convertion.35. the Progressive MovementThe Progressive Movement is a movement demanding government regulation of the economy and social conditions. It spread quickly with the support of large numbers of people across the country. It was not an organi*oals.36. the Peace ConferenceThe Peace Conference or the Paris Conference, began on January 18, 1919. The conference was actually a conference of division of colonies of Germany, Austro-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire and the grabbing of as much as possible from the defeated nations. It was dominated by the Big Four (the United States, Britain. France, and Italy)37. the Truman Doctrine:On March 12, 1949, President Truman put forward the Truman Doctrine in a speech to the joint session of Congress. The Truman Doctrine meant to say that the U.S. government would support any country which said it was fighting against Communism.38. the Marshall PlanOn June 5, 1947, the Secretary of State George Marshall announced the Marshall Plan, which meant that in order to protect Western Europe from possible Soviet expansion, the United States decided to offer Western European countries economic aid.39. the New FrontierIt was the President Kennedy’s program which promised civil rights for blacks, federal aid to farmers and to education, medical care for all and the abolition of poverty.40. checks and balances:The government is divided into three branches, the legislative, the executive and the judicial, each has part of the powers but not all the power. And each branch of government can check, or block, the actions of the other branches. The three branches are thus in balance. This called “checks and balances”.1.AmerigoVespucci--a navigator, proved that the land was not India,but a new continent. Therefore, the land was named America after.2.The Puritans----The Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. They wanted to purify the Church of England and threatened with religious persecution, the Puritans leaders saw the New world as the a refuge provided by God for those He meant to save.3.The Bill of Rights----In 1789, James Madison introduced in the House of Representatives 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.4.The Emancipation Proclamation----After the Civil war began, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to win more support at home and abroad. It granted freedom to all slaves in areas still controlled by the Confederacy.1. What do you know about the Roman invasion of Britain?——In 55 BC and 54 BC, Julius Caesar, a Roman general, invaded Britain twice. In AD 43, the Emperor Claudius invaded Britain successfully. For nearly 400 years Britain was under the Roman occupation, though it was never a total occupation. British recorded history begins with the Roman invasion.2. Why did the William the Conqueror invade England after Edward’s death?——It was said that king Edward had promised the English throne to William but the Witan chose Harold as king. So William led his army to invade England. In October 1066, during the important battle of Hastings, William defeated Harold and killed him. On Christmas Day, William was crowned king of England, thus beginning the Norman Conquest of England.3. What were the consequences of the Norman Conquest?—— The Norman Conquest of 1066 is one of the best known events in English history. It brought about many consequences.William confiscated almost all the land and gave it to his Norman followers. He replaced the weak Saxon rule with a strong Norman government. So the feudal system was completely established in England. Relations with the Continent were opened, and civilization and commerce were extended. Norman-French culture, language, manners, and architecture were been introduced. The church was brought into closer connection with Rome, and the church courts were separated from the civil courts.4. What were the contents and the significance of the Great Charter?——The Great Charter, or the Magna Carta, was document signed in 1215 between the barons and king John. It had altogether 63 clauses, of which the most important contents were these: (1) no tax should be made without the approval of the Grand Council; (2) no freeman should be arrested, imprisoned, or deprived of his property except by the law of the land; (3) the church should possess all its rights and privileges; (4) London and other towns should retain their ancient rights and privileges; (5) there should be the same weights and measures throughout the country.The Great Charter was a statement of the feudal and legal relationship between the Crown and the barons, a guarantee of the freedom of the Church and a limitation of the powers of the king. The spirit of the Great Charter was the limitation of the powers of the king, but it has long been regarded as the foundation of English liberties.5. What do you know about the English Renaissance?——Renaissance was the revival of classical literature and artistic styles in European history. It began in Italy in the early 14th century and spread to England in the late 15th century. The English Renaissance had 5 characteristics: (1) English culture was revitalized not so much directly by the classics as by contemporary Europeans under the influence of the classics; (2) England as an insular country followed a course of social and political history which was to a great extent independent of the course of history else where in Europe; (3) Owning to the great genius of the 14th century poet chaucer, the native literature was vigorous enough and experienced in assimilating foreign influences without being subjected by them; (4) English Renaissance literature is chiefly artistic, rather than philosophical and scholarly; (5) the Renaissance coincided with the Reformation inEngland.The English Renaissance was largely literary, and achieved its finest expression in the so-called Elizabethan drama. Its finest exponents were Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, and William Shakespeare.6. Why did the Restoration take place?——When Oliver Cormwell died in 1658 and was succeeded by his son, Richard, the regime began to collapse. One of Cromwell’s generals occupied London and arranged for new parliamentary elections. The Parliament thus was elected in 1660, and to resolve the crisis, it asked the late king’s son to return from his exile in France as king Charles II. It was called the Restoration.7. How did the “Glorious Revolution” break out? What was the significance of it?——In 1685 Charles II died and was succeeded by his brother James II. James, who was brought up in exile in Europe, was a Catholic, He hoped to rule without giving up his personal religious views. But England was no more tolerant of a Catholic king in 1688 than 40 years. So the English politicians rejected James II, and appealed to a Protestant king, William of Orange, to invade and take the English throne. William landed in England in 1688. The takeover was relatively smooth, with no bloodshed, no any execution of the king. This was known as the Glorious Revolution. William and his wife Mary were both protestants and became co-monarchs. T hey accepted the Bill of Rights. It’s the beginning of the age of constitutional monarchy.8. What is your comment on land enclosures in England?——Agricultural enclosure became frequent in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It has good as well as bad results: (1) Farms became bigger and bigger units as the great bought up the small; (2) more vegetables, more milk and more dairy produce were consumed, and diet became more varied;(3) enclosure was a disaster for the tenants evicted from their lands by the enclosures. They were forced to look for work in towns, which rapidly became hopelessly over crowded. It also lead to mass emigration, particularly to the New World; (4) a new class hostility was introduced into rural relationships. Concentration of land in fewer hands increased the price of land and dashed the labourers’ hopes of even owning his own land. Many became wage labourers, earning low rates in spite of agriculture’s new prosperity.9. How did the English Industrial Revolution proceed?——T he Industrial Revolution began with the textile industry. It’s characterized by a series of inventions and improvements of machines, such as John Ray’s flying shuttle, James Hargreaves’ spinning Jenny, Richard Arkwright’s waterframe and Samuel Cropton’s mu le. The Scottish inventor James Watt produced a very efficient steam engine in 1765, which could be applied to textile and other machinery. The most important element in speeding industriali* iron with coke instead of charcoal in 1709. Similar developments occurred in the forging side of the iron industry which enabled iron to replace wool and stone in many sectors of the economy. Improved transporation ran parallel with production.As a result of the industrial revolution, Britain was by 1830 the “workshop of the world”; no other country could compete with her in industrial production.10. What do you know about the Chartist Movement and the People’s Charter? What’s your comment on them?——The Chartist Movement was an industrial working class movement that happened in England from 1836 to 1848. In 1836 a group of skilled workers and small shopkeepers formed the London Working Men’s Association. They drew up a charter of political demands (known as the People’s Charter) in 1838, which had six points: (1) the vote for all adult males, (2) voting by secret ballot, (3)equal electoral districts, (4) abolition of property qualifications for members of Parliament, (5) payment of members of Parliament, and (6) annual Parliament, with a General Election every June. Support for these six demands was loudly voiced all over the country. Other working men formed Chartist groups throughout the country to press Parliament to accept the 6 points. But Parliament rejected them for three times. In the end, the Chartist Movement failed.It failed because of its weak and divided leadership, and its lack of coordination with trade-unionism. The working class was still immature. The Chartist Movement, however, the first nation wide working class movement and drew attention to serious problems. The 6 points were achieved very gradually over the period of 1858-1918, although the sixth has never been practical.11. How did the Labour Party come into being?——As the new working class became established in the industrial towns in the late 18th century, they became aware of the power which they could possess if they acted together instead of separately. So various working class organizations were formed which brought about the formation of the Labour Party.The Labour Party had its origins in the Independent Labour Party, which was formed in January, 1893 and Led by Keir Hardie, a Scottish miner. The foundation of an effective party for labour depended on the trade unions. In 1900, representatives of trade unions, the ILP, and a number of small societies set up the Labour Representation Committee (LRC). The LRC changed its name to be Labour Party in time for the general election which was called for 1906. The Labour Party remains one of the two major parties in Britain until today.12. What is a constitutional monarchy? When did it begin in Britain?——A constitutional monarchy is a governmental system in which the head of State is a king or a queen who reigns but does not rule. The country is namely reigned by the Sovereign, but virtually by His or Her Majesty’s Government —— a body of Ministers who are the leading members of whichever political party the electorate has voted into office, and who are responsible to Parliament.The Constitutional Monarchy in Britain began in 1689, when king William and Queen Mary jointly accepted the Bill of Rights, which guaranteed free speech within both the House of Lords and the House of Commons and constitutional monarchy, of a monarchy with power limited by Parliament began.13. What is the role of the Monarchy in the British government?——The sovereign is the symbol of the whole nation. In law, he/she is head of the executive, an integral part of the legislature, head of the judiciary, the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the crown and the “supreme governor” of the established church of England.14. What are the main functions of Parliament?——The main functions of Parliament are: (1) to pass laws; (2) to provide the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation; (3) to examine government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure; (4) to debate the major issues of the day.15. Why do the criminal convicts like to be tried first before the magistrates’ courts?——A Magistrates’ court tries summary offences and “either way” offences. It is open to the public and the media and usually consists of three unpaid “lay” magistrates. A magistrates’ court sits without a jury.The criminal law presumes the innocence of the accused until he has been proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt; every possible step is taken to deny to the prosecution any advantage over the defence. No accused person has to answer the questions of the police before trials; he is not compelled to give evidence or to submit to cross-examination in court.16. What does the civil courts system do?——The civil courts system does the following jurisdiction: (1) actions founded upon contract and tort; (2) trust and mortgages cases; (3) actions for the recovery of land; (4) cases involving disputes between landlords and tenants; (5) admiralty cases and patent cases; and (7) divorce cases and other family matters.17. What is meant by the term “welfare state” in Britain?——The welfare state is a system of government by which the state provides the economic and social security of its citizens through its organization of health services, pensions and other facilities. The system is funded out of national insurance contributions and taxation. In Britain the term applies mainly to National Health Service (NHS), national insurance and social security.18. What is the most important established Church in Britain? How is it related to the Crown and linked with the State?——The most important established Church in Britain is the Church of England.It is uniquely related to the Crown in that the Sovereign must be a member of that church and, as “Defender of the Faith”, must promise on his or her accession to uphold it. Church of England archbishops, bishops and deans of cathedrals are appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Church is also linked with the State through the House of Lords, in which the two archbishops (of Canterbury and York), the bishops of London, Durham and Winchester, and 21 other senior bishops of London, Durham and Winchester, and 21 other senior bishops have seats19. What distinguishes the Open University from all other British Universities?——The Open University is non-residential university which is “open” to all to become students. It offers degree and other courses for adult students of all ages in Britain and other member countries of the EU. It was founded in 1969 and began its first courses in 1970. It was a combination of specially produced printed texts, correspondence tuition, television and radio broadcasts and audio/video cassettes. For some courses, there are residential schools. There is a network of study centers for contact with part-time tutors and counselors, and with fellow students.20.Say something about the three immigration waves.——The first immigration wave began in the mid 1810s, grew steadily during the 1830s and 40s and reached the highest point in 1845. The second wave covered the period between 1860 and 1890. The third wave was the largest of the three. It happeded between 1890 and 1914.21. Why did the early settlers come to America? Who were the Pilgrims? Who were the Puritans? What were the features in the colonial period which had influence on later American development? ——The early settlers came to America either for the opportunity to realize their dreams and better their lives or for the freedom from religious and governmental persecution. The Pilgrims were persons who suffered religious persecution in England and went to Holland and later moved to America in 1620. The Puritans were the members of a Protestant group in England who wanted to purify the Church of England. Dissatisfied and threatened in England, they saw America as a refuge and migrated to America since 1630. There were a number of features in the colonial period which had influence on later American development. They were: representative form of government, rule of law, respect of individual rights, religious tolerance and a strong spirit of individual enterprise.22. What were the causes of the War of Independence?——The economy in the thirteen colonies developed very fast and people wanted more power to detemine their own business. But the policy of the British government was to bring the development under control and to collect more taxes from the colonies. On April 19, 1775, on their way to Concord to seize the military supplies of the militia there, the British soldiers met armed militiamen. The shotswere fired, the War of Independence began.23. What was unusual about the Article of Confederation? What was the struggle at the Constitutional Convention? How was the conflict solved?——The Article of Confederation was unusual in many ways. First, it provided for no king. The drafters blamed the troubles with Britain on king George III. So they decided not to have a king but to have a republic. This was revolutionary. Second, while the Articles created a central government in the form of a Congress, the emphasis was still on state powers. Third, the Articles of Confederation was a written constitution for the United States. No important country in the world at that time, including Britain, had a written constitution. At the Constitution Convertion the delegates all agreed it was impossible to try to patch up the Articles of Confederation, and decided to ignore them and draw up a new plan of government. Here contradictions emerged between the bigger states and smaller states, between the industrial commercial interests and landed interests, etc. In the end, the conflict was resolved by the “Great Compromise” of July 16, giving each state and equal vote in the Senate but making representation in the House reflect the size of each state’s population.24. Why did the Civil War break out? How did the war end?——In the early 1800s, the Northern states turned from farming to manufacturing. Black slavery soon disappeared in the North. But things were different in the South. The South expanded both its agriculture and its slavery. The problem of slavery became a serous political issue. The abolitionists tried to abolish slavery while the South tried to keep it. When Abraham Lincoln was elected President, the Southern states broke away and formed a new nation. Then Lincoln was determined to maintain the Union and the war broke out on April 12, 1861, Lincoln realized that he could win support for the Union at home and abroad by making the war a just war against slavery. So he issued Emancipation Proclamation. Thus England and France stood by the Union’s side. Many black slaves joined the Union Army. After a series of battles, Robert Lee could no longer hold Richmond. He surrendered on April 9, 1865. The Civil War ended.25. What were the contents of the New Deal?——The New Deal included the following contents;(1) establishment and strengthening of government regulation and control of banking, credit and currency systems, overcoming the financial crisis and restriction of certain extreme practices of financial capital;(2) federal government management of relief and establishment of social security system such as the formation of the Civilian Conservation Crops and the setting-up of the Tennessee Valley Authority;(3) stimulation of the recover of industry and agriculture;(4) formulation and implementation of federal labour laws to raise the role of labour in the relations of production;(5) improvement of the situation of minorities and members of certain religious groups.26. What was the impact of the Vietnam War-on American society?——The Vietnam War had a great impact on American society.(1) The United States was weakened as a result of the long war.(2) American society had never been so divided since the Civil War.(3) There was serious disagreement with in the ruling circle.(4) The image of the United States, especially the image of the American armed forces, was discredited.27. Who was McCarthy and what was McCarthyism?——Joseph R. McCarthy was U.S. Senator. He started his campaign by saying on Feb. 9, 1950 that he。
英美概况知识点总结归纳

英美概况知识点总结归纳英美概况是指英国和美国的文化、历史、政治、经济、教育等各方面的概况。
这两个国家在世界上具有重要的地位,对世界文化和政治产生了深远的影响。
下面将对英美概况的各个方面进行总结归纳。
一、文化概况1. 英国文化英国是一个拥有悠久历史的国家,其文化底蕴深厚。
英国文学自古至今在世界范围内具有重要地位,莎士比亚、狄更斯、奥斯丁等众多文学家的作品至今仍然备受人们喜爱。
英国音乐、戏剧、电影等领域也有着丰富的传统。
2. 美国文化美国是一个移民国家,因此其文化融合了来自世界各地的元素,呈现出多元化和包容性。
美国文学、音乐、电影等在世界上具有很大影响力,如杰克·伦敦、海明威、福克纳等作家的作品、爵士乐、摇滚乐、好莱坞电影等都深受人们喜爱。
3. 英美文化交流英美两国之间的文化交流十分频繁,互相影响。
英国音乐、戏剧、文学等在美国具有很大影响力,而美国的流行音乐、电影、文化现象也在英国广受欢迎。
二、历史概况1. 英国历史英国历史可以追溯到古代,罗马、盎格鲁-撒克逊、诺曼底人等不同民族和文化在英国留下了深远的影响。
英国从16世纪开始成为世界上的帝国大国,殖民了大量领土。
20世纪初,英国逐渐衰落,但仍然在政治、文化方面占有重要地位。
2. 美国历史美国历史相对年轻,但是却是一个充满传奇色彩的国家。
美国独立战争后成为独立国家,并在19世纪成为世界上最强大的国家之一。
20世纪,美国在两次世界大战后成为世界超级大国,对世界政治、经济产生了深远影响。
3. 英美历史关系英国曾是美国的殖民地,双方有着深厚的历史渊源。
美国革命后,两国保持了密切的关系,经济、文化、政治等方面有着广泛的交流合作。
三、政治概况1. 英国政治英国是一个君主立宪制国家,国家元首是君主,首相是政府首脑。
英国的政治体系成熟稳定,经过数百年的发展,形成了一套完善的议会制度和法律体系。
2. 美国政治美国是一个总统制国家,总统是国家元首和政府首脑。
英美概况考试笔记

英美概况考试笔记英语国家概况The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 英国的历史分四部分:1.The Origins of a Nation2.The Shaping of the Nation3.Transition to the Mordern Age4.The Rise and Fall of the British Empire1 取关键词Origins的字头O2 取关键词Shaping的字头S3 取关键词Mordern的字头M4 取关键词Empire的字头E连起来就是OSME=O+S+ME=O(哦),S(是)ME(我)!接着每个部分的标题串在一起,用一句话来记忆.要好好记住每句话里所包括的每个字母代表的是什么标题.可以看几遍这个情景对话,熟悉了之后可以不费吹灰之力就能记住整个英国历史的线索.有了这条线,你再把主要的记忆点,象珠子一样地穿起来,这样回忆就非常容易了.可谓既见树木,又见森林.一切尽在掌握.History of UK (---O.S.M.E---) 哦(O),是(S)我(ME)O: Early settlers -> Roman Britain -> Anglo-Saxons -> the Viking and Danish Invations -> the Norman Conquest O(哦):eravidan=era(时代)+vida(维达,女名)+n(诺曼征服)句子:(老公看着一本英语国家概况在那里自言自语)哦,原来英国的新时代是伟大的维达小姐实现诺曼征服之后开始的。
S: Norman Rule -> the Great Charter -> the Hundred Years' War with France -> the Blackdeath and the peasant uprising S(是):ng(拼音:ng=嗯)+hb(hubby丈夫,的缩写)[N+G+H+B]句子:(老婆在看电视,漫不经心地说)是的,嗯, 老公。
英美概况名词解释

英美概况名词解释英美概况是指英国和美国的基本情况和特点。
下面是对英美概况中一些重要名词的解释:1. 英国(United Kingdom):由英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰四个国家组成的岛国。
英国是世界上最古老的民主国家之一,拥有丰富的文化遗产,包括莎士比亚、披头士乐队等。
2. 美国(United States of America):由50个州组成的联邦共和国,位于北美洲。
美国是世界上最强大的经济体之一,以及军事、科技、文化等各个领域的重要国家。
3. 英语(English):英国和美国的官方语言,也是世界上被广泛使用的语言之一。
英国英语和美国英语在语音、发音、词汇等方面有一些差异,但是基本互通。
4. 联合国(United Nations):成立于1945年的国际组织,致力于维护国际和平与安全、促进全球合作与发展。
英国和美国都是联合国的创始成员国,并在联合国中扮演着重要角色。
5. 环境保护(Environmental Protection):指保护和改善环境,减少对环境的破坏。
英国和美国都高度重视环境保护,推行一系列措施,如减少污染排放、保护自然资源、推动可持续发展等。
6. 市场经济(Market Economy):一种经济体制,以市场为基础,由供求关系决定资源配置和价格形成。
英国和美国都采用市场经济模式,注重市场竞争和个体自由,以及保护产权和鼓励创新。
7. 民主制度(Democracy):一种政治制度,主权由人民拥有,通过选举和公民参与来决定国家事务。
英国和美国都是民主国家,实行三权分立和代议制度,保障公民的基本权利与自由。
8. 文化多样性(Cultural Diversity):指不同文化在一个社会、国家或地区共存,并且相互影响、交流的现象。
由于历史和移民等原因,英国和美国都具有丰富的文化多样性,包括语言、宗教、习俗、饮食等方面。
以上是对英美概况中一些重要名词的简要解释。
这些名词涉及到政治、经济、文化等多个领域,对于了解和认识英美两国有很重要的意义。
英美概况名词解释(美)

名词解释1. Marshall Plan(马歇尔计划,又称欧洲复兴计划;Chapter 9):An American policy presented by George Marshall in 1947, proposing massive and systematic aid to Western Europe in order to keep Communists out of political power in Europe and establish the international economic order.2. Monroe Doctrine (门罗主义;Chapter 6):A foreign policy announced by James Monroe in 1823, opposing European colonialism in the Americas and taking a neutral attitude towards affairs of colonies still owned by European nations in the New World.3. Electoral College (选举人团;Chapter 12):A mechanism in the United States for the indirect electionof the President and Vice President .Citizens of the United States vote in each state and the District of Columbia at a general election to choose a slate of "electors" pledged to vote for a particular party's candidate.△各州选民先选出本州总统选举人,其数目与该州在国会中的议员数相等。
英美概况名词解释-史上最全哦

英美概况名词解释-史上最全哦英国部分Thames RiverHigh LandersBritish Commonwealth 英联邦伦敦佬Maritime Climate 海洋性气候English ChannelChunnel 英吉利海峡隧道9. “pea soup ” fogs 伦敦雾isles: 巨石阵becket: 托马斯Chaucerof arc: 圣女贞德: 罗拉德派Puritans 清教徒CaesarHardrian's Wall 哈德连长城七王国贤人会议the Great 豆瓣the Conqueror 威廉征服battle of Hastings Danelaw 施行丹麦法的地区Conquest 诺曼征服Book 英国国王1806 年颁的土地调查清册Black Death 黑死病divine rights of kings 君权神授Wars of Roses 玫瑰战争(考过) Spanish Armada: 西班牙无敌舰队Glorious Revolution of 1688 光荣革命Gunpowder Plot of 1605 火药阴谋案Mary 血腥玛丽boroughs 衰败选区Pankhurst 潘克赫斯特太太是女权的主要倡导者之一。
league of nations 国际联盟blitz 闪电战beatles 甲克虫乐队撒切尔主义of payments 收支平衡Maynard Keynestrade and invisible trade union 欧盟policies(货币主义政策)Trade Union Act of 1871 工会法农业产业disease 英国病monarchy 君主立宪制Council 枢密院law 公共法state opening of parliament Civil list 英国王室费(考过)civil service 公务员(考过) peer 终身贵族无罪裁决Crown Court 刑事法庭punishment 死刑metropolitan police force National Health Service 英国国民保健制度insurance 社会保险practitioner(GP)workersalvation armyschools 路透社(GM)Schools 有公费保证的学校(升学考试)murdochbritish museumThanksgiving DayIreland(爱尔兰)美国部分Vespuccitruman doctrineboomgreat lakesisland8."the great compromise" Emancipation Proclamation taxtation without representation Chinese Exclution Act servants tea party(考过) dividegettysburg addressku klux klan黑幕揭发者nationalismred scare progressive movement New Dealmarshall plansmith actcivil rights act of 1964 poverty line 32 checks and balances34. the free enterprise system35. the federal systemof powers37. private schooldistrict39. global education40. poor richard's almanac42. jazzera44. father's day's day46. congressional medal of honor48. Great Canyon49. New EnglandAmericans51. ChicanosRicansPapersFirst Continental Congress DestinyBlack ThursdayFrontierHuron StatementCorn Belt62。
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The industrial revolution refers to the mechanization of industry and the consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Britain was the first country to industrialize.The industrial revolution A period in the late 18th andearly 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, production, and transportation had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in Britain. The Industrial Revolution, was a period of unprecedented technological, economic and social change that completely transformed British culture from a largely rural, static society with limited production and division of labour into the world's first modern industrial society.the Black DeathIt was the deadly bubonic plague who spread through Europe in the 14th century. It swept through England without warning and any cure, and sparing no victims. It killed between half and one-third of the population of England. Thus, much land was left untended and labor was short. It caused far-reaching economic consequences. The Black Death----It was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. It is widely thought to have been an outbreak of bubonic plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestisis and have started in Central Asia. It came without warning, and without any cue.The Black Death is estimated to have killed30% to 60% of Europe's population and had profound effects on the course of European history. In England, it killed almost half of the total population, causing far-reaching economic consequences.the Progressive MovementThe Progressive Movement is a movement demanding government regulation of the economy and social conditions. It spread quickly with the support of large numbers of people across the country. It was not an organized campaign with clearly defined goals.(Rather, it was a number of diverse efforts at political, social, and economic reforms. In spite of limitations of the movement, it brought about changes and improvement in many fields.)Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and about 410. Britannia already had cultural and economic links with Continental Europe, butthe invaders introduced new developments in agriculture, urbanisation, industry and architecture, leaving a legacy that is still apparent today. The first Romans to campaign extensively in Britain were the forces of Julius Caesar in 55 and 54 BC, but the first significant conquest did not begin until AD 43, under Claudius.House of commonsI.House of CommonsCompositions:The House of Commons: The House of Commons is the real centerof British p(651 in num.) from England (524), Wales(38), Scotland(72) and N Ireland(17)Functions: a, law passageb, authorizing taxation and public expenditurec, examining government action d. debateFeatures: a. electoral system (general election)b. general election by secret ballotc. party member elected to form a majority partyd. PM out of the majority, cabinet and shadow cabinetolitical life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives (Members of Parliament) make and debate policy. These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.Manifest destiny Manifest Destiny , which conveyed the ideathat the rightful destiny of the United States was included to make an empire.Manifest Destiny:a. inevitability of the founding of USAb. legitimacy of the expansion of American Territoryc. spread of American democracy being the task of American people who were chosen to do the Lord’s workContainment policy Containment was a United States policy toprevent the spread of communism abroad. A component of the Cold War, this policy was a response to a series of moves by the Soviet Union to enlarge communist influence in Eastern Europe, China,Korea, Africa, and Vietnam. It represented a middle-ground position between appeasement and rollback.Containment(1946); “ a long term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.”The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the GermanDemocratic Republic (GDR) starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin.The barrier included guard towers placed along large concrete walls, which circumscribed a wide area ("death strip") that contained anti-vehicle trenches and other defences.The Cold War (1947–1991) was the continuing state of politicalconflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition existing after World War II (1939–1945), primarily between the Soviet Union and its satellite states, and the powers of the Western world, particularly the United States. Although the primary participants' military force never officially clashed directly, they expressed the conflict through military coalitions, strategic conventional force deployments, extensive aid to states deemed vulnerable, proxy wars, espionage, propaganda, conventional and nuclear arms races, appeals to neutral nations, rivalry at sports events, and technological competitionsCold War InfluencePoliticalWASP; military superpower from 1979Economic: economic recession; slow income risingSocial: new conservatism(middle class); rebuilding of American military strengthW The Cold War, often dated from 1947 to 1991, was a sustained stateof political and military tension between powers in theWestern Bloc, dominated by the United States with NATO among its allies, and powers in the Eastern Bloc, dominated by theSoviet Union along with the Warsaw Pact. This began after the success of their temporary wartime alliance against Nazi Germany, leaving the USSR and the US as two superpowers with profound economic and political differences. A neutral faction arose with the Non-Aligned Movement founded by Egypt, India, and Yugoslavia; this faction rejected association with either the US-led West or the Soviet-led East.The Berlin Wall(German: Berliner Mauer) was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR,East Germany) startingon 13 August 1961, that completely cut off (by land) West Berlin from surrounding EastGermany and from East Berlin.[1] The barrier included guard towers placed along large concrete walls,[2] which circumscribed a wide area (later known as the "death strip") that contained anti-vehicle trenches, "fakir beds" and other defenses. The Eastern Bloc claimed that the wall was erected to protect its population from fascist elements conspiring to prevent the "will of the people" in building a socialist state in East Germany. In practice, the Wall served to prevent the massive emigration and defection that marked Germany and the communist Eastern Bloc during the post-World War II period.The Berlin Wall was officially referred to as the "Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart" (German: Antifaschistischer Schutzwall) by GDR authorities, implying that neighbouring West Germany had not been fully de-Nazified.[3] The West Berlin city government sometimes referred to it as the "Wall of Shame"—a term coined by mayor Willy Brandt—while condemning the Wall's restriction on freedom of movement. Along with the separate and much longerInner German border (IGB) that demarcated the border between East and West Germany, both borders came to symbolize the "Iron Curtain" that separated Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. Before the Wall's erection, 3.5 million East Germans circumvented Eastern Bloc emigration restrictions and defected from the GDR, many by crossing over the border from East Berlin into West Berlin, from where they could then travel to West Germany and other Western European countries. Between 1961 and 1989, the wall prevented almost all such emigration.[4] During this period, around 5,000 people attempted to escape over the wall, with an estimated death toll of over 600.In 1989, a series of radical political changes occurred in the Eastern Bloc, associated with the liberalizationof the Eastern Bloc's authoritarian systems and the erosion of political power in the pro-Soviet governments in nearby Poland and Hungary. After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced on 9 November 1989 that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. Over the next few weeks, a euphoric public and souvenir hunters chipped away parts of the wall; the governments later used industrial equipment to remove most of the rest. The physical Wall itself was primarily destroyed in 1990. The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification, which was formally concluded on 3 October 1990.。