American_History英美文学复习 美国历史精华篇.pptVIP

American History I. America in the Colonial Era II. The American War of Independence III. The American Civil War IV. America in the 20th Century V. America in the 21st Century Colonization of North America (1607-1776) Indians: The “first Americans” The Discovery of the New World Discovery of The New World In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian navigator, sailed across the vast ocean under the Spanish flag and discovered an unknown new continent, but he mistook it for India. Why did the early settlers come to America? Opportunity It drew English merchants who dreamed of establishing great new estates out of the wildness. It drew carpenters, bakers, tailors and other skilled workmen who could not find job in England. It drew the poor and the homeless from farmlands and villages. It drew many English in search of religious freedom. 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. The Founding of the 13 Colonies The first English colony in America was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607; known as the mother state Between 1607 and 1733 the British established 13 colonies along the east coast of North America. Relations of American Indians with European settlers Colonial period The colonists were building a new way of life in the New World. There were a number of features which would play a role in forming the American character. They were ：representative form of government, rule of law, respect of individual rights, religious tolerance宗教上的宽容 and a strong spirit of individual enterprise. Stamp Act 印花税，是税的一种，是对合同、凭证、书据、账簿及权利许可证等文件征收的税种。纳税人通过在文件上加贴印花税票，或者盖章来履行纳税义务。 Tea Act The British government allowed the company to sell tea at lower price in the colonies through its own people. This took away the tea business from American tea merchants. The Am