美国基本概况.ppt

1、Contemporary American Culture and Society,大学英语部 邵义强Course Contents,Introduction and the government Amendments and education Immigrants and ethnicity Family and religion Domestic economy and politics Work and social welfare 7. Tourism and holiday 8. Media, leisure and recreation 9.Justic

2、e, the law, crime and the police 10. America and the world,Course requirements,1. Attendance 2. Exam,Warming-up Activity,Say anything you know about the United States, such as some American symbols.,Boeing 777,Chapter One: Introduction,1. geography The United States is 9,372,614 k in size, with its

3、continent extending 4,505 km east to west, 2574 km north to south. A flight from New York to San Francisco takes five and a half hours. A trip by car from coast to coast takes five to six days.,2. A brief history,Before the Declaration of Independence Columbus discovered the American continent in 14

4、92. Before then, the American Indians lived on this continent. Europeans came to the new continent after 1492, and the continent became colonies of the United Kingdom.,2. A brief history,Declaration of Independence In 1776，Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson. Property as one

5、of human beings inalienable rights was written in this document.,2. A brief history,Adopting the Constitution American constitution, written in 1787 is the basis of the American national government. It divides the government into three branches: legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial bra

6、nch. This is the so-called separation of powers.,2. A brief history,The Civil War (1861-1865) Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the U.S. and formed the Confederate States of America and they fought against the U.S. federal government. About 620,000 soldiers died in the war.

7、Slavery was ended and the federal government was strengthened.,The Civil War,2. A brief history,The Gilded Age (1865-1900) Industry and commerce By 1900, industry surpassed agriculture. Material comfort for the middle and upper class Hardship and hopelessness for millions of laborers 1850: 85% rural

8、; 1920: over 50% urban,2. A brief history,The 1920s and the Great Depression Assembly line, the city, and the car became dominant features of everyday life. After the collapse of the economy in 1929, optimism of the 1920s turned to bleak despair. The Depression brought physical and psychological har

9、dship to all classes of America.,The Great Depression,2. A brief history,World War II The war ended the Depression due to production of tanks and aircraft. The prosperity benefited all levels of wage earners.,2. A brief history,Baby boomers and counterculture movement ( The 1950s and 1960s) #Economi

10、c prosperity after the war #Various desires to be satisfied #Social changes: racial and sexual discrimination, poverty, values and lifestyles. #Divorce, view of sex, homosexuality,2. A brief history,The Vietnam War(1961-1973) Over 58,000 American lives were lost in the war, until US withdrew in 1973

11、. Americans disagreed violently about the war. The baby-boomers helped to end the war through their protests.,2. A brief history,Culture Wars Traditional values have been weakened. Over 30 percent of all births were given by unmarried women. Ideas about sex roles changed. Gay movement rooted in big

12、cities.,3. Population trends,The US has a population of 310,258,861. 12.8% is black, 11.5% is Hispanic, 4% Asian and Pacific Islander, and 0.9% is American Indians. The history of the United States is really the story of various immigrant groups working together to build a unique nation.,3. Populati

13、on trends,The United States now is known as a melting pot, composed of immigrants from different nations all over the world. Most immigrants treasure all their lives the traditions of their homeland and share a special bond with people of the same national origin.,3. Population trends,Urbanization 1

14、850: 15% in urban areas 1920: more than 50% Today more than 80% of Americans live in urban areas. The city is a hotbed of corruption while the country breeds healthy life. Desire for closeness to nature and bigger private space.,3. Population trends,Suburban boom To make a reconciliation between the

15、 city and the country, the Americans began suburbanization after WW II. The automobiles and freeways A suburban home with yards become the symbol of American middle class. Small towns grow and big cities decline since the 1960s.,4. Economy,GDP: Gross Domestic Product 1 United States 14,330,000 2 Jap

16、an 4,844,000 3 China (PRC) 4,222,000 4 Germany 3,818,000 5 France 2,978,000 6 United Kingdom 2,787,000 7 Italy 2,399,000 8 Russia 1,757,000 9 Spain 1,683,000 10 Brazil 1,665,000 (2008, million) GDP per capita,4. Economy,The public sector only accounts for one fifth of American economic activity, wit

17、h the rest in private hands. The huge wealth is produced by private industries and businesses, big or small. For agriculture, 90% farms are private property of the farmers, who benefit from public education, roads, support prices and so on.,4. Economy,Polarized Wealth Distribution US is one of the r

18、ichest countries , with 5% of world population consuming 30% world production. The top 10% of households own 30% of the nations wealth.,4. Economy,GDP composition Agriculture, 2% Industry, 18% Services, 80% Information technology Electronic commerce Finance Trade,Discussion,Reports say that Chinas G

19、DP in 2009 has surpassed Japan and became the second largest in world. Is China really so rich?,5. Definition of class,The upper class Includes property owners, corporate and business owners, large employers and financiers. This elite group owns most of the wealth, and wealthiest 10% of the populati

20、on owns 90% corporate stocks and 95 bonds.,The upper class,5. Definition of class,The middle class Includes managers, small business owners, farmers and professionals such as attorneys, physicians, supervisors, foremen, teachers. Survey shows that more than 70% of Americans believe they are middle-c

21、lass.,The middle class,5. Definition of class,The working class includes people who are neither professionals nor managers and who make a living by working for others. Factory and construction workers, restaurant workers, clerical workers, and manual and agricultural laborers fall into this class.,T

22、he working class,5. Definition of class,Belief in social mobility People can move upward if they work long and hard, save and invest wisely. This belief diminishes class consciousness and political conflict among classes. That is the reason why class conflict is not so intense in US as in other coun

23、tries.,6. Basic American values,A: Individual freedom History has a profound effect on the shaping of the American character. The earliest settlers came to this continent to escape the controls by kings and governments, churches and noblemen. All individuals want to control their own destiny.,Discus

24、sion,What is your definition of Chinese middle class?,6. Basic American values,B: self-reliance Americans believe that they should stand on their own feet, achieving both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible, usually by age 18 or 21.,6. Basic American values,C

25、: Equal chance to succeed The belief that everyone has an equal chance to succeed in the US is the reason why immigrants have been attracted to the country. Because titles of nobility is forbidden in the Constitution, no formal class system developed in the US.,6. Basic American values,D: competitio

26、n If life is seen as a race, then a person must run the race in order to succeed. Actually, any people who do not compete successfully do not fit into the mainstream of American life.,6. Basic American values,E: material wealth Immigrants came to the US for a better life. Material wealth becomes a v

27、alue and an accepted measure of social status. Going from rags to riches becomes a slogan for the American Dream.,6. Basic American values,F: hard work Hard work has been necessary and rewarding for most Americans throughout their history. “Most people are poor because they deserve to be.” _ By a po

28、litician,7. Constitution the Washington National Cathedral; the Thomas Jefferson Memorial; the United States Capitol; the Lincoln Memorial; and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.,The Washington National Cathedral,The Washington National Cathedral,Congress has designated the Washington National Cathedral

29、 as the National House of Prayer, and the building has, over the years, played a role in uniting Americans through both religious and secular services.,The state funeral of President Ronald Reagan,The Lincoln Memorial,8. Washington D. C.,Washington, D.C. is a national center for the arts. The John F

30、. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, and the Washington Ballet. The Kennedy Center Honors are awarded each year to those in the performing arts who have contributed greatly to the cultural life of the United States.,John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,8. Washington D.C.,We can sum up that Washington D.C. is especially important in Politics, History and Culture and Arts. If you are interested in them, you should not miss the capital c