美国基本概况课件

ContemporaryAmericanCultureandSociety大学英语部邵义ourseContentsIntroductionandthegovernmentAmendmentsandeducationImmigrantsandethnicityFamilyandreligionDomesticeconomyandpoliticsWorkandsocialwelfare7.Tourismandholiday8.Media,leisureandrecreation9.Justice,thelaw,crimeandthepolice10.AmericaandtheworldCourserequirements1.Attendance2.ExamBoeing7772.AbriefhistoryBeforetheDeclarationofIndependenceColumbusdiscoveredtheAmericancontinentin1492.Beforethen,theAmericanIndianslivedonthiscontinent.Europeanscametothenewcontinentafter1492,andthecontinentbecamecoloniesoftheUnitedKingdom.2.AbriefhistoryDeclarationofIndependenceIn1776，DeclarationofIndependencewasdraftedbyThomasJefferson.Propertyasoneofhumanbeings’inalienablerightswaswritteninthisdocument.2.AbriefhistoryAdoptingtheConstitutionAmericanconstitution,writtenin1787isthebasisoftheAmericannationalgovernment.Itdividesthegovernmentintothreebranches:legislativebranch,executivebranch,andjudicialbranch.Thisistheso-calledseparationofpowers.2.AbriefhistoryTheCivilWar(1861-1865)ElevenSouthernslavestatesdeclaredtheirsecessionfromtheU.S.andformedtheConfederateStatesofAmericaandtheyfoughtagainsttheU.S.federalgovernment.About620,000

soldiersdiedinthewar.Slaverywasendedandthefederalgovernmentwasstrengthened.TheCivilWar2.AbriefhistoryThe1920sandtheGreatDepression@Assemblyline,thecity,andthecarbecamedominantfeaturesofeverydaylife.@Afterthecollapseoftheeconomyin1929,optimismofthe1920sturnedtobleakdespair.@TheDepressionbroughtphysicalandpsychologicalhardshiptoallclassesofAmerica.TheGreatDepression2.AbriefhistoryBabyboomersandcounterculturemovement(The1950sand1960s)#Economicprosperityafterthewar#Variousdesirestobesatisfied#Socialchanges:racialandsexualdiscrimination,poverty,valuesandlifestyles.#Divorce,viewofsex,homosexuality2.AbriefhistoryTheVietnamWar(1961-1973)Over58,000Americanliveswerelostinthewar,untilUSwithdrewin1973.Americansdisagreedviolentlyaboutthewar.Thebaby-boomershelpedtoendthewarthroughtheirprotests.3.PopulationtrendsTheUShasapopulationof310,258,861.12.8%isblack,11.5%isHispanic,4%AsianandPacificIslander,and0.9%isAmericanIndians.ThehistoryoftheUnitedStatesisreallythestoryofvariousimmigrantgroupsworkingtogethertobuildauniquenation.3.PopulationtrendsTheUnitedStatesnowisknownasa"meltingpot",composedofimmigrantsfromdifferentnationsallovertheworld.Mostimmigrantstreasurealltheirlivesthetraditionsoftheirhomelandandshareaspecialbondwithpeopleofthesamenationalorigin.3.PopulationtrendsUrbanization1850:15%inurbanareas1920:morethan50%Todaymorethan80%ofAmericansliveinurbanareas.Thecityisahotbedofcorruptionwhilethecountrybreedshealthylife.Desireforclosenesstonatureandbiggerprivatespace.4.EconomyGDP:GrossDomesticProduct

1

UnitedStates14,330,000

2

Japan4,844,000

3

China(PRC)4,222,000

4

Germany3,818,000

5

France2,978,000

6

UnitedKingdom2,787,000

7

Italy2,399,000

8

Russia1,757,000

9

Spain1,683,000

10

Brazil1,665,000

(2008,million)

GDPpercapita

4.EconomyThepublicsectoronlyaccountsforonefifthofAmericaneconomicactivity,withtherestinprivatehands.Thehugewealthisproducedbyprivateindustriesandbusinesses,bigorsmall.Foragriculture,90%farmsareprivatepropertyofthefarmers,whobenefitfrompubliceducation,roads,supportpricesandsoon.4.EconomyPolarizedWealthDistributionUSisoneoftherichestcountries,with5%ofworldpopulationconsuming30%worldproduction.Thetop10%ofhouseholdsown30%ofthenation’swealth.4.EconomyGDPcompositionAgriculture,2%Industry,18%Services,80%Informationtechnology

ElectroniccommerceFinanceTradeDiscussionReportssaythatChina’sGDPin2009hassurpassedJapanandbecamethesecondlargestinworld.IsChinareallysorich?5.DefinitionofclassTheupperclassIncludespropertyowners,corporateandbusinessowners,largeemployersandfinanciers.Thiselitegroupownsmostofthewealth,andwealthiest10%ofthepopulationowns90%corporatestocksand95bonds.Theupperclass5.DefinitionofclassThemiddleclassIncludesmanagers,smallbusinessowners,farmersandprofessionalssuchasattorneys,physicians,supervisors,foremen,teachers.Surveyshowsthatmorethan70%ofAmericansbelievetheyaremiddle-class.Themiddleclass5.DefinitionofclassTheworkingclassincludespeoplewhoareneitherprofessionalsnormanagersandwhomakealivingbyworkingforothers.

Factoryandconstructionworkers,restaurantworkers,clericalworkers,andmanualandagriculturallaborersfallintothisclass.Theworkingclass5.DefinitionofclassBeliefinsocialmobilityPeoplecanmoveupwardiftheyworklongandhard,saveandinvestwisely.Thisbeliefdiminishesclassconsciousnessandpoliticalconflictamongclasses.ThatisthereasonwhyclassconflictisnotsointenseinUSasinothercountries.6.BasicAmericanvalues

A:IndividualfreedomHistoryhasaprofoundeffectontheshapingoftheAmericancharacter.

Theearliestsettlerscametothiscontinenttoescapethecontrolsbykingsandgovernments,churchesandnoblemen.

Allindividualswanttocontroltheirowndestiny.DiscussionWhatisyourdefinitionofChinesemiddleclass?6.BasicAmericanvaluesB:self-relianceAmericansbelievethattheyshouldstandontheirownfeet,achievingbothfinancialandemotionalindependencefromtheirparentsasearlyaspossible,usuallybyage18or21.6.BasicAmericanvaluesC:EqualchancetosucceedThebeliefthateveryonehasanequalchancetosucceedintheUSisthereasonwhyimmigrantshavebeenattractedtothecountry.BecausetitlesofnobilityisforbiddenintheConstitution,noformalclasssystemdevelopedintheUS.6.BasicAmericanvaluesD:competitionIflifeisseenasarace,thenapersonmustruntheraceinordertosucceed.Actually,anypeoplewhodonotcompetesuccessfullydonotfitintothemainstreamofAmericanlife.6.BasicAmericanvaluesE:materialwealthImmigrantscametotheUSforabetterlife.Materialwealthbecomesavalueandanacceptedmeasureofsocialstatus.

GoingfromragstorichesbecomesasloganfortheAmericanDream.6.BasicAmericanvaluesF:hardworkHardworkhasbeennecessaryandrewardingformostAmericansthroughouttheirhistory.“Mostpeoplearepoorbecausetheydeservetobe.”_____Byapolitician7.Constitution&governmentConstitutionprescribestheseparationofpowers:Legislativebranch,executivebranch,judicialbranch.

7.Constitution&governmentA:LegislativepowerisgrantedtotheCongress.OnlyCongresshasthepowertomakelawsanddefinesitstwo-chambersystem.TheSenateconsistsof100members(2foreachstate).TheHouseofRepresentativeshas435members.TheCapitol(Congress)7.Constitution&governmentPowersgrantedtotheCongress:Passeslaws,Canoverride(不理)President’sveto（否决权）CanimpeachandremovePresidentandotherhighofficials,Printsmoney,Candeclarewar,Regulatescommerce……7.Constitution&governmentB:Executivepowera).ExecutiveofficeincludesmanyagenciessuchasTheWhiteHouse,OfficeofManagementandBudgetCouncilofEconomicAdvisersOfficeofScienceandTechnologyNationalSecurityCouncil,ect.WhiteHouse7.Constitution&governmentb)ExecutiveDepartmentsThePresidentrelieson14departmentssuchasDepartmentofDefenseDepartmentofCommerceDepartmentofJusticeDepartmentofLaborDepartmentofEnergy7.Constitution&governmentc)IndependentExecutiveAgenciesMorethan30independentexecutiveagenciesalsohelpthePresident.CentralIntelligenceAgency(CIA)NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration(NASA)CIA&NASA7.Constitution&governmentd)11IndependentRegulatoryCommissionsTheysetdownspecificrulesandstandardsfortrade,business,scienceandtransportation.FederalTradeCommission7.Constitution&governmente)GovernmentCorporationsThereareatleast60governmentcorporationstoday.U.S.PostalServiceAmtrak7.Constitution&governmentC.ThejudicialbranchConstitutionmakesthecourtsindependentofboththelegislationandthePresident.Thejudgesshouldholdofficeforlifeunlesstheyareimpeachedandconvicted.Andthesalariesofthejudgescannotbelowered.8.WashingtonD.C.

IsthecapitaloftheU.S.

TheWhiteHouse,theCapitol,andtheSupremeCourtarelocatedhere.Therearemanyofthenation’smonumentsandmuseums.TheheadquartersofWorldBankandInternationalMonetaryFundandmanydomesticorganizationsarealsohere.NationalMallTheNationalMallisalarge,openparkareainthecenterofthecity.TheWashingtonMonumentisLocatedinthecenter.TheLincolnMemorial,theNationalWorldWarIIMemorial,theKoreanWarVeteransMemorial,andtheVietnamVeteransMemorialarealsohere.TheNationalArchiveshousesthousandsofdocumentsimportanttoAmericanhistoryincludingtheDeclarationofIndependence.8.WashingtonD.C.TheWhiteHouse;theWashingtonNationalCathedral;theThomasJeffersonMemorial;theUnitedStatesCapitol;theLincolnMemorial;andtheVietnamVeteransMemorial.TheWashingtonNationalCathedralTheWashingtonNationalCathedralCongresshasdesignatedtheWashingtonNationalCathedralasthe"NationalHouseofPrayer",andthebuildinghas,overtheyears,playedaroleinunitingAmericansthroughbothreligiousandsecularservices.ThestatefuneralofPresidentRonaldReagan

TheLincolnMemorial8.WashingtonD.C.Washington,D.C.isanationalcenterforthearts.TheJohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArtsishometotheNationalSymphonyOrchestra,theWashingtonNationalOpera,andtheWashingtonBallet.TheKennedyCenterHonorsareawardedeachyeartothoseintheperformingartswhohavecontributedgreatlytotheculturallifeoftheUnitedStates.JohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArts8.WashingtonD.C.WecansumupthatWashingtonD.C.ise