书城外语流行名人篇(老外最想和你聊的101个英语话题)
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第3章 The Political Leaders政坛领袖(2)

As the unanimous choice to serve as the first President of the United States, 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 built 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”。

Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention that drafted the United States Constitution in 1787 because of his dissatisfaction with the weaknesses of Articles of Confederation that had time and again impeded the war effort。 Washington became the first President of the United States in 1789。 He attempted to bring rival factions together to unify the nation。 He supported Alexander Hamilton’s programs to pay off all state and national debt, implement an effective tax system, and create a national bank, despite opposition from Thomas Jefferson。 Washington proclaimed the US neutral in the wars raging in Europe after 1793。 He avoided war with Britain and guaranteed a decade of peace and profitable trade by securing the Jay Treaty in 1795, despite intense opposition from the Jeffersonians。 Although never officially joining the Federalist Party, he supported its programs。 Washington’s “Farewell Address” was an influential primer on republican virtue and a stern warning against partisanship, sectionalism, and involvement in foreign wars。

美国有一位华盛顿这样德才兼备的人作为第一任总统是幸运的。翻开南美和非洲各国的历史,我们可以看到即使是一个以民主宪法为伊始的新国家,堕落成为军事专制国家也是易如反掌。华盛顿是一位坚定的领袖,他保持了国家的统一,但是却无永远把持政权的野心,既不想做国王,又不想当独裁者。他开创了主动让权的先例──一个至今美国仍然奉行的先例。

与当时的其他美国领袖如托马斯·杰弗逊、詹姆斯·麦迪逊、亚历山大·汉密尔顿等相比,乔治·华盛顿缺乏创新的精神和深刻的思想。但是他比所有这些雄才大略的人物都重要得多,无论在战争还是和平期间,他在行政领导方面都起着至关重要的作用,没有他,任何政治运动都不会达到目的。对美国的形成,麦迪逊的贡献是重大的,而华盛顿的贡献几乎可以说是不可缺少的。

Key words & Sentences

关键词句全知道

George Washington is the first American president!

乔治·华盛顿是第一任美国总统!

Once again George Washington helped them。

乔治·华盛顿又一次帮助了他们。

The college is named after George Washington。

该大学以乔治·华盛顿的名字命名。

They traced their ancestry back to George Washington。

他们的祖先可追溯至乔治·华盛顿。

The highest of all is George Washington Monument。

其中最高的是乔治·华盛顿纪念碑。

We will be learning about George Washington。

我们将学习有关乔治·华盛顿的知识。

The book has a peculiar value; it belonged to George Washington。

这本书有特别的价值;他的主人是乔治·华盛顿。

In 1789 George Washington became the first president of the country。

1789年乔治·华盛顿就任该国的第一任总统。

Indeed, presidents have been making use of it George Washington。

实际上,包括乔治·华盛顿在内,各届总统中使用这一方法者不在少数。

What would George Washington be most famous for if he were alive today·

如果乔治·华盛顿今天还活着,那么他最为著名的是什么·

We have to do a report on George Washington。

我们必须写一篇关于乔治·华盛顿的报告。

Boys, do you remember the story of George Washington and the cherry tree·

孩子们,你们还记得乔治·华盛顿和樱桃树的故事吗·

George Washington tied for the sixth place in one recent poll and rated the seventh in another。

乔治·华盛顿在最近两次民意测验中分别排在第六、第七位。

That is the home of George Washington。

那就是乔治·华盛顿的家乡。

This monument helps all of us remember George Washington, the first President of the United States。

这座纪念碑使我们所有人都怀念美国的第一位总统乔治·华盛顿。

George Washington gave generations of Americans their model of determination, selflessness, and honor。

乔治·华盛顿给一代又一代美国人树立了坚毅、无私、正直的榜样。

George Washington Carver was born on a farm in the state of Missouri in 1864 during the American Civil War。

1864年乔治·华盛顿出生在密苏里州的一个农场里,当时正值美国内战时期。

The memory of America’s first president George Washington was once celebrated on his birthday, February 22nd。

为了纪念美国第一任总统乔治·华盛顿,人们在他的生日2月22日举行庆祝活动。

George Washington was the first President and one of the most important presidents in the United States of America。

华盛顿是美国第一任总统并且是美国历史上最重要的总统之一。

Several schools share the name Washington, including the University of Washington and George Washington University。

几个学校分享了“华盛顿”这个名字,包括华盛顿大学和乔治·华盛顿大学。

Washington University in Saint Louis was named Eliot Seminary when it opened in 1853。 Later the name was changed to honor the first American president, George Washington。

圣路易斯的华盛顿大学在1853年创办初期被称为艾略特学院。后来,为纪念第一任美国总统乔治·华盛顿而更名。

General George Washington built a fort there during the Revolutionary War to protect the Hudson River from the British。

独立战争期间,乔治·华盛顿将军在此建立了一座堡垒来保护哈德逊河免受英军袭击。

Washington resigned rather than seize power。

华盛顿没有夺取政权,而是辞职了。

Washington was universally regarded as the “Father of his country”。

华盛顿被普遍认为是“国父”。

Let’s Talk!

开始交流吧!

Mike: Who is the first president of America·

麦克:谁是美国第一位总统·

Daisy: George Washington。

黛西:乔治·华盛顿

Mike: That’s correct。

麦克: 答对了。

Daisy: Are you familiar with all the presidents in American history·

黛西:你对美国的历届总统都了解吗·

Mike: Not all of them, just some I’m interest in。

麦克:不是全部,仅有我感兴趣的几位。

Daisy: Can you give an example·

黛西:能举个例子吗·

Mike: Well, Thomas Jefferson and Lincoln。

麦克:嗯,托马斯·杰弗逊和林肯。

Daisy: They are all Great leaders。

黛西:他们都是伟大的领导人。

Mike: Yes, they are very important in American history。

麦克:是的,他们在美国的历史上起了重要的作用。

Daisy: And Washington and Jefferson are the found fathers of this country。

黛西:华盛顿和杰弗逊是这个国家的创始人。

Mike: Did Washington write the announcement of independence·

麦克:是华盛顿写了独立宣言吗·

Daisy: No, Jefferson did。

黛西:不,是杰弗逊写的。

Mike: Washington is the one who united the country。

麦克:华盛顿统一了美国。

Daisy:It is very admirable of him to give up the power。

黛西:他主动让出权力非常令人敬佩。

Mike: He is a good example。

麦克:他起到了很好的示范作用。

Daisy: Indeed。

黛西:确实是。

Napoléon Bonaparte

拿破仑·波拿巴

拿破仑是一位伟大的军事家,200多年来拿破仑一直是个热门话题,其传奇的一生在多数人心目中是一场辉煌的悲剧。

About Napoléon

关于拿破仑

Napoléon Bonaparte was a military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution。 As Napoléon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815。