1、 Key Points and Mojor Terms The United States of America Chapter 1 Geographical Features and Natural Resources I Key points: 1 Location and Geographical Divisions 2 Climate 3 Natural Resources 4 Comparison of the Basic Facts of the United States, United Kingdom and China II Major terms: 1 The Missis
2、sippi _ It is the most important and longest reiver in the US. It flows about 6400 km from its northwestern source in the Rockies to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi and its tributariies drain one of the richest farm areas in the world. 2 Continental Divide _ It is the name given to the principal
3、, and largely mountainous, divide of the Americas that separates streams that flow into the Pacific Ocean from those that flow into the Atlantic. 3 Great Lakes _ The five lakes between Canada and the US. They are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. 4 Great Plains _
4、 It is the area between the Mississippi and the Rockies. 5 New England _ the northeastern corner of the United States including the present states of Mine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. It was once the chief center of the American War of Independence. III Histo
5、rical figures: IV Questions to ponder: 1 Describe the relative location of the United States and make a general comment on the location of the country and its advantages and drawbacks for its defence and economic development. 2 Say something about the economy of the United States including its size,
6、 structure and characteristics. （ For detailed answer see the corresponding chapter in the text book） Chapter 2 American Population I Key Points: 1 Composition of the US Population 2 Polulation Distribution 3 Internal Migration II Mojor Terms: 1 The melting pot _ It means that the US is composed of
7、immigrants from different nations all over the world. 2 WASPs _ It stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. They are the mainstream of Americans who are the descentdents of the early English settlers. 3 Indian Reservations _ It is a land managed by a native American tribe under the United States De
8、partment of the Interiors Bureau of Indian Affairs. III Historical Figures: IV Questions to Ponder: 1 Why is the United States known as a “melting pot”? 2 What factors cause the Americans to move frequently within the United States? 3 Why do many Americans now migrate from cities to suburbs? Chapter
9、 3 Discovery and Colonization I Key Points: 1 American Indians and Great Discoveries 2 Colonization of the New World 3 Governmental and Social Structures of the 13 Colonies II Mojor Terms: 1 Mayflower Compact _ The first governing document of Playmouth Colony, drafted by the “Pilgrims” who crossed t
10、he Atlantic aboard the Mayflower, seeking religious freedom. It was signed on Nov. 11, 1620. In this Compact they agreed to stick together, to abide by majority role, and to have a right to choose their own leader. 2 Thanksgiving Day _ It is an annual one-day holiday to give thanks to at the conclus
11、ion of the harvest season. The United States celebrates Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. 3 Jamestown _ The first permanent colony established by the English in 1607. III Historical Figures: 1 Hwui Shan _ A Chinese monk who went to America with a small fleet in 450-500 BC and who brou
12、ght California redwood to America. 2 Christopher Columbers _ A navigator and colonialist who is one of the first Europeans to discover the Americas. 3 Amerigo Vespucci _ An Italian merchant and explorer; the first person to realize that the Americas were separated from the continent of Asia. Therefo
13、re, the land was named America after him. 4 John Cabot _ An Italian navigator and explorer commonly credited as one of the first early modern Europeans to land on the North American mainland. 5 Jacques Cartier _ A French navigator who first explored and described the Gulf of St-Lawrence and the shor
14、e of the Saint Lawrence River, which he named Canada. IV Questions to Ponder: 1 What Factors Led to the European Discovery of America? 2 What is Jacques Cartier s contribution in the process of the exploration and colonizastion of America? 3 Which colony was the first permanent British colony in Eme
15、rica? In which year was it established? Say something about it. 4 Say something about the colony established by the Pilgrim Fathers. Chapter 4 American Revolution I Key Points: 1 Britains Policy to American Colonies 2 The Road to the Revolution 3 The Outbreak of War and the Second Continental Congre
16、ss 4 Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War II Mojor Terms: 1 French and Indian War _ Also known as the Seven Years War (1756-1763). Britain and Prussia on one side, and France, Austria and Russia on the other. The war was mainly started by the dispute between Britain and France over
17、the possession of the Ohio Valley. As a result of the war, Prussia became a first rank power in Europe, and Britain also destroyed the Frence power in India and so became the worlds leading colonial power. 2 Townshend Acts of 1767 _ A eries of acts passed beginning in 1767 by the Parliament of Great
18、 Britain relating to the British colonies in North America. The acts are named for Charles Townshend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who proposed the program. 3 The Sons of Leberty _ It was a secret organization of American Patriots formed in the summer of 1765 in seaports and provincial towns of
19、the thirteen colonies before the American Revolution. They pressured stamp agents to resing their posts, burned stamped paper, and stimulated mob violence. 4 Boston Tea Party _ On the evening of Dec. 16, 1773, in Boston, when ships of tea reched Boston and the governor was determined to see that tea
20、 was legally protected in its distribution, a group of angry colonists, known as the Boston Tea Party, dressed themselves up as Indians and boarded the three company ships, ripped open 342 chests of tea valued at 17000 and dumped all the tea into the harbor. 5 Minute men _Militia men during the Amer
21、ican War of Idependence who were ready to march at a minutes notice. 6 Redcoats _ A term used to refer to British soldiers during the American War of Independence. 7 Declaration of Independence _ The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July
22、 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies should be free and independent states. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson. 8 The victory of Saratogo _ A battle fought at Saratogo during the Ameriran War of Independence. In this battle the British troops suffered very heavy losses and a
23、bout 6000 British soldiers were forced to surrender. This victory was a turning point of the war. It further heightened the spirit of the Americans, but more importantly it cause action abroad. 9 The Treaty of Paris (1783) _ The treaty to conclude the American War of Independence. Britain acknowledg
24、ed their independence of the United States. ixed its boundaries along the line of the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes system to the north, the Mississippi River to the west, and the thirty-first parallel to the south; Both sides possessed free navigation of the Mississippi. III Historical Figures: 1 Thomas
25、 Paine _ an author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Thomas Paine has a claim to the title The Father of the American Revolution because of Common Sense, the pro-independence monograph pamphlet he anonymously published
26、 on January 10, 1776; signed “Written by an Englishman“, the pamphlet became an immediate success. It quickly spread among the literate, and, in three months, 100,000 copies sold throughout the American British colonies (with only two million free inhabitants), making it a best-selling work in eight
27、eenth-century America. The pamphlet appeared in January 1776, after the Revolution had started. It was passed around, and often read aloud in taverns, contributing significantly to spreading the idea of republicanism, bolstering enthusiasm for separation from Britain, and encouraging recruitment for
28、 the Continental Army. Paine provided a new and convincing argument for independence by advocating a complete break with history. Common Sense is oriented to the future in a way that compels the reader to make an immediate choice. It offers a solution for Americans disgusted and alarmed at the threa
29、t of tyranny. 2 King George III _ King of England, the third British monarch of the House of Hanover, but unlike his two predecessors he was born in Britain and spoke English as his first language. Early in his reign, Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years War, becoming the dominant Europe
30、an power in North America and India. However, many of its American colonies were soon lost in the American War of Independence, which led to the establishment of the United States of America. A series of wars against revolutionary and Napoleonic France, over a 20-year period, finally concluded in th
31、e defeat of Napoleon in 1815. 3 George Washington _ A dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 17751783, and he presided ov
32、er the writing of the Constitution in 1787. As the unanimous choice to serve as the first President of the United States (17891797), he developed the forms and rituals of government that have been used ever since, such as using a cabinet system and delivering an inaugural address. As President, he b
33、uilt a strong, well-financed national government that stayed neutral in the wars raging in Europe, suppressed rebellion and won acceptance among Americans of all types, but also saw the advent of contentious political parties. Washington was universally regarded as the “Father of his country“. 4 Tho
34、mas Jefferson _ The third President of the United States (18011809) and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776). An influential Founding Father, Jefferson envisioned America as a great “Empire of Liberty“ that would promote republicanism.He was the first United States Secretar
35、y of State (17891793) under George Washington and advised him against a national bank. He was the second Vice President (17971801) under John Adams. Jefferson took the oath of office and became President of the United States in 1801. As president he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase (1803). IV Quest
36、ions to Ponder: 1 What was acomplished at the Second Continental Congress? 2 What were the main contents of the Declaration of Independence? (P43 of text book) Chapter 5 The Confederation and the Constitution I Key Points: 1 Articals of Confederation 2 Constitutional Convention 3 Opinions on the Rat
37、ification Issue 4 The New Government and the Louisiana Purchase 5 The War of 1812 II Mojor Terms: 1 The Articles of Confederation _ Adopted by Congress in Nov. 1777, and sent to the 13 states for ratification. Frst American constitution created a “league“ of states in which each state retained “Its
38、sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction and rights, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.“ 2 The Constitutional Convention _ In May 1787, 55 men met in Philadelphia and wrote the Constitution of the United St
39、ates. They generally approved of a stronger central government than that authorized under the Articles. The convention had opened on May 25, and by September 12 the final draft was submitted for approval. 3 Bill of Rights _ The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to th
40、e United States Constitution. They were introduced by James Madison to the First United States Congress in 1789 as a series of legislative articles and came into effect as Constitutional Amendments on December 15, 1791, through the process of ratification by three-fourths of the States. The Bill of
41、Rights is a series of limitations on the power of the United States federal government, protecting the natural rights of liberty and property including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, a free press, free assembly, and free association, as well as the right to keep and bear arms. In federal cr
42、iminal cases, it requires indictment by a grand jury for any capital or “infamous crime“, guarantees a speedy, public trial with an impartial jury composed of members of the state or judicial district in which the crime occurred, and prohibits double jeopardy. In addition, the Bill of Rights reserve
43、s for the people any rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution and reserves all powers not specifically granted to the federal government to the people or the States. 4 The Louisiana Purchase _ The acquisition by the United States of America of 2,147,000 km2 Frances claim to the territor
44、y of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S. paid $11,250,000 plus cancellation of debts worth $3,750,000, for a total sum of 15 million dollars for the Louisiana territory ($219 million in 2010 dollars). III Historical Figures: 1 Alexander Hamilton _ An army pfficer, lawyer, founding father, leading statesman,
45、 financier, first Secretary of the Treasury, and advocate of strong national government and a member of the Continental Congress and Constitution Convention. He proposed Bank of the United States and helped create the Federalist Party. 2 James Madison _ An American politician and the fourth Presiden
46、t of the United States and one of the most influential founding fathers of the United States. He was credited Father of the US constitution for his role in the Constitution Convention. He also negotiated with France and helped to finish the Lousiana Purchase. 3 James Monroe _ American statesman. He
47、fought in the War of American Independence, and after the war he studied law under Thomas Jefferson. He served as minister to France, the Secretary of State and the fifth President of the US. 4 Napoleon Bonaparte _ Military and political leader of France and Emperor of the French as Napoleon I. He a
48、spired to establish a grand empire in Europe and was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. IV Questions to Ponder: 1 What does the “checks and balances” mean” in the United States political system? 2 What was the Bill of Rights of the United States? Chapter 6 American Expansion an
49、d the Civil War I Key Points: 1 Monro Doctrine 2 Westward Movement 3 Economic Antagonism Between North and South 4 The Way to the Civel War 5 Civil War II Mojor Terms: 1 Monroe Doctrine _ The Monroe Doctrine is a policy of the United States introduced on December 2, 1823. It stated that further efforts by European countries to colonize land or interfere w
