英语国家概况 美国 U3.ppt

2.6_2.1 2. Encounter with Europeans When Europeans arrived in the American continent, Native Americans soon found themselves the victims of their greed for gold, silver, and other treasures. Horses, steel swords, and primitive muskets gave Europeans a great advantage over Indian inhabitants. Overwhelmed both in manpower and weaponry, Native Americans, upon their encounter with Europeans, were first driven out of their familiar land and then were either wholly or partially destroyed. In the process, Indians lost not only their land to white invaders but also their peaceful family 2.6_2.2 2. Encounter with Europeans and community life. Eventually, the overpowered Indians were compelled to move to some remote interior areas, known nowadays as “Indian Reservations”. Obviously, the history of Native Americans after European contact is one of conquest and domination. 2.6_2.3 2. Encounter with Europeans Native American reservations 2.6_3.1 3. Native Americans today U.S. federal and state governments have spent quite considerably in providing Native Americans with services and in encouraging their various enterprises. But due to their isolation, Native Americans in the reservations remain outside the mainstream of economic development, unable to make their living standards match that of white Americans. According to the statistics released in 2006, overall, Native American median income was 65 percent of that for white Americans in 1990. Indeed, of all American ethnic groups, they have the highest unemployment, school dropout, and suicide rates. Many cases 2.6_3.2 3. Native Americans today cases of malnutrition and mental illness as well as an exceptionally short life expectancy indicate that much remains to be done to improve the situation for Native Americans. American Indians before the Capitol 3_main True or False Multiple Choice Discussion 1. In the United States, the major source of population growth is the rising birth rate. 2. In the United States, t