美国文化符号 ppt 大学英语要点.pptVIP

Famous Symbols of American Culture The United States of America is a constitutional federal republic, situated primarily in North America. It comprises 50 states and one federal district, and has several territories with differing degrees of affiliation. It is also referred to, with varying formality, as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., the U.S. of A., America, the States, or (poetically) Columbia. Since the mid-20th century, following World War II, the United States has emerged as a dominant global influence in economic, political, military, scientific, technological, and cultural affairs. Because of its influence, the U.S. is considered a superpower and, particularly after the Cold War, a hyperpower by some. The country celebrates its founding date as July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress—representing thirteen British colonies—adopted the Declaration of Independence that rejected British authority in favor of self-determination. The structure of the government was profoundly changed in 1789, when the states replaced the Articles of Confederation with the United States Constitution. The date on which each of the fifty states adopted the Constitution is typically regarded as the date that state entered the Union to become part of the United States. 美利坚合众国是一个宪法联邦共和国，主要位于北美。它拥有50个州和一个联邦区,它同样可以称作the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., the U.S. of A., America, the States, or (poetically) Columbia。 自从20世纪中叶，即二战结束后开始，美国已主宰全球经济、政治、军事、科学、科技及文化领域。尤其在冷战过后，正因它的诸多影响，美国被公认为超级强国。 在1776年7月4日，当代表13个英国殖民地的第二届全国会议采纳了独立宣言之时，标志着英国的统治宣告结束，而自主统治即将崛起。 1789年见证了美国政府结构的转变，以美国宪法替代了联邦契约。这一天，50个州采用了这份宪法，并普遍认为这一天是各个州联合在一起，成为了美利坚合众国中的一份子。 Star-Spangled Banner 呈横长方形，长与宽之比为１９∶１０。主体由１３道红、白相间的宽条组成，７道红条，６道白条；旗面左上角为蓝色长方形，其中分９排横列着５０颗白色五角星。红色象征强大和勇气，白色代表纯洁和清白，蓝色象征警惕、坚韧不拔和正义。１３道宽条代表最早发动独立战争并取得胜利的１３个州，５０颗五角星代表美利坚合众国的州数。１８１８年美国国会通过法案，国旗上的红白宽条固定为１３道，五角星数目应与合众国州数一致。每增加一个州，国旗上就增加一颗星，一般在新州加入后的第二年７月４日执行。至今国旗上已增至５０颗星，代表美国的５０个州。每年６月１４日为“美国国旗制定纪念日”。在这一天，美国各地举行纪念活动，以示对国旗的敬