20 The Historical Significance of American Revolution
The ways of history are so intricate and the motivations of human actions so complex that it is always hazardous1 to attempt to represent events covering a number of years, a multiplicity of persons, and distant localities as the expression of one intellectual or social movement; yet the historical process which culminated2 in the ascent3 of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency4 can be regarded as the outstanding example not only of the birth of a new way of life but of nationalism as a new way of life. The American Revolution represents the link between the seventeenth century, in which modern England became conscious of itself, and the awakening5 of modern Europe at the end of the eighteenth century. It may seem strange that the march of history should have had to cross the Atlantic Ocean, but only in the North American colonies could a struggle for civic6 liberty lead also to the foundation of a new nation. Here, in the popular rising against a “tyrannical” government, the fruits were more than the securing of a freer constitution. They included the growth of a nation born in liberty by the will of the people, not from the roots of common descent, a geographic7 entity8, or the ambitions of king or dynasty. With the American nation, for the first time, a nation was born, not in the dim past of history but before the eyes of the whole world.
20美國革命的歷史意義
歷史的進(jìn)程是如此錯(cuò)綜復(fù)雜，人類行為的動(dòng)機(jī)是如此令人費(fèi)解，以至于想把那些時(shí)間跨
度大，涉及人數(shù)多，空間范圍廣的事件描述成為一個(gè)智者或一場社會(huì)運(yùn)動(dòng)的表現(xiàn)的企圖是危險(xiǎn)的。
然而以托馬斯•杰弗遜登上總統(tǒng)寶座為高潮的那一段歷史過程可以被視為一個(gè)特殊的例子。
在這段歷史時(shí)期里不僅誕生了新的生活方式，而且民族主義成為了一種新的生活方式。美國獨(dú)立戰(zhàn)爭成為聯(lián)結(jié)17世紀(jì)現(xiàn)代英格蘭的自我意識(shí)和18
世紀(jì)末現(xiàn)代歐洲的覺醒的紐帶。歷史的行程需要跨越大西洋，這看起來似乎有些奇怪，但卻只有在北美殖民地為民權(quán)和自由的斗爭才能導(dǎo)致新國家的建立。
這里，反對"*"的民眾起義的成果不僅是獲得一個(gè)包含更多自由的憲法，還包括了一個(gè)依照人民的意愿誕生在自由中的國家的成長。這
個(gè)國家不是基于血緣、地理、君主或王朝的野心。由于有了美國，第一次一個(gè)國家的誕生
不是發(fā)生在歷史模糊的過去，而是在全世界人們的眼前。
1 hazardous
adj.(有)危險(xiǎn)的，冒險(xiǎn)的；碰運(yùn)氣的
參考例句：
These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.這些情況對航海非常不利。
Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都說那是一次危險(xiǎn)的投資。
2 culminated
v.達(dá)到極點(diǎn)( culminate的過去式和過去分詞 )
參考例句：
a gun battle which culminated in the death of two police officers 一場造成兩名警察死亡的槍戰(zhàn)
The gala culminated in a firework display. 晚會(huì)以大放煙火告終。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》
3 ascent
n.(聲望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高
參考例句：
His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社會(huì)地位提高之迅速令人吃驚。
Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按動(dòng)電鈕，電梯開始緩慢上升。
4 presidency
n.總統(tǒng)(校長，總經(jīng)理)的職位(任期)
參考例句：
Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.羅斯福連續(xù)當(dāng)選四屆美國總統(tǒng)。
Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.兩位候選人最終成為總統(tǒng)職位競爭者。
5 awakening
n.覺醒，醒悟 adj.覺醒中的；喚醒的
參考例句：
the awakening of interest in the environment 對環(huán)境產(chǎn)生的興趣
People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人們正逐漸意識(shí)到自己的權(quán)利。
6 civic
adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的
參考例句：
I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我認(rèn)為投票選舉是我作為公民的義務(wù)。
The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府協(xié)助促進(jìn)工程的進(jìn)展。
7 geographic
adj.地理學(xué)的，地理的
參考例句：
The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 這座城市的成功很大程度上歸功于它的地理位置。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》
Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 環(huán)境問題并不理會(huì)這些地理界限。 來自英漢非文學(xué) - 環(huán)境法 - 環(huán)境法
8 entity
n.實(shí)體，獨(dú)立存在體，實(shí)際存在物
參考例句：
The country is no longer one political entity.這個(gè)國家不再是一個(gè)統(tǒng)一的政治實(shí)體了。
As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作為一個(gè)獨(dú)立的法律實(shí)體，公司必須納稅。
The ways of history are so intricate and the motivations of human actions so complex that it is always hazardous1 to attempt to represent events covering a number of years, a multiplicity of persons, and distant localities as the expression of one intellectual or social movement; yet the historical process which culminated2 in the ascent3 of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency4 can be regarded as the outstanding example not only of the birth of a new way of life but of nationalism as a new way of life. The American Revolution represents the link between the seventeenth century, in which modern England became conscious of itself, and the awakening5 of modern Europe at the end of the eighteenth century. It may seem strange that the march of history should have had to cross the Atlantic Ocean, but only in the North American colonies could a struggle for civic6 liberty lead also to the foundation of a new nation. Here, in the popular rising against a “tyrannical” government, the fruits were more than the securing of a freer constitution. They included the growth of a nation born in liberty by the will of the people, not from the roots of common descent, a geographic7 entity8, or the ambitions of king or dynasty. With the American nation, for the first time, a nation was born, not in the dim past of history but before the eyes of the whole world.
20美國革命的歷史意義
歷史的進(jìn)程是如此錯(cuò)綜復(fù)雜，人類行為的動(dòng)機(jī)是如此令人費(fèi)解，以至于想把那些時(shí)間跨
度大，涉及人數(shù)多，空間范圍廣的事件描述成為一個(gè)智者或一場社會(huì)運(yùn)動(dòng)的表現(xiàn)的企圖是危險(xiǎn)的。
然而以托馬斯•杰弗遜登上總統(tǒng)寶座為高潮的那一段歷史過程可以被視為一個(gè)特殊的例子。
在這段歷史時(shí)期里不僅誕生了新的生活方式，而且民族主義成為了一種新的生活方式。美國獨(dú)立戰(zhàn)爭成為聯(lián)結(jié)17世紀(jì)現(xiàn)代英格蘭的自我意識(shí)和18
世紀(jì)末現(xiàn)代歐洲的覺醒的紐帶。歷史的行程需要跨越大西洋，這看起來似乎有些奇怪，但卻只有在北美殖民地為民權(quán)和自由的斗爭才能導(dǎo)致新國家的建立。
這里，反對"*"的民眾起義的成果不僅是獲得一個(gè)包含更多自由的憲法，還包括了一個(gè)依照人民的意愿誕生在自由中的國家的成長。這
個(gè)國家不是基于血緣、地理、君主或王朝的野心。由于有了美國，第一次一個(gè)國家的誕生
不是發(fā)生在歷史模糊的過去，而是在全世界人們的眼前。
1 hazardous
adj.(有)危險(xiǎn)的，冒險(xiǎn)的；碰運(yùn)氣的
參考例句：
These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.這些情況對航海非常不利。
Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都說那是一次危險(xiǎn)的投資。
2 culminated
v.達(dá)到極點(diǎn)( culminate的過去式和過去分詞 )
參考例句：
a gun battle which culminated in the death of two police officers 一場造成兩名警察死亡的槍戰(zhàn)
The gala culminated in a firework display. 晚會(huì)以大放煙火告終。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》
3 ascent
n.(聲望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高
參考例句：
His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社會(huì)地位提高之迅速令人吃驚。
Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按動(dòng)電鈕，電梯開始緩慢上升。
4 presidency
n.總統(tǒng)(校長，總經(jīng)理)的職位(任期)
參考例句：
Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.羅斯福連續(xù)當(dāng)選四屆美國總統(tǒng)。
Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.兩位候選人最終成為總統(tǒng)職位競爭者。
5 awakening
n.覺醒，醒悟 adj.覺醒中的；喚醒的
參考例句：
the awakening of interest in the environment 對環(huán)境產(chǎn)生的興趣
People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人們正逐漸意識(shí)到自己的權(quán)利。
6 civic
adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的
參考例句：
I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我認(rèn)為投票選舉是我作為公民的義務(wù)。
The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府協(xié)助促進(jìn)工程的進(jìn)展。
7 geographic
adj.地理學(xué)的，地理的
參考例句：
The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 這座城市的成功很大程度上歸功于它的地理位置。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》
Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 環(huán)境問題并不理會(huì)這些地理界限。 來自英漢非文學(xué) - 環(huán)境法 - 環(huán)境法
8 entity
n.實(shí)體，獨(dú)立存在體，實(shí)際存在物
參考例句：
The country is no longer one political entity.這個(gè)國家不再是一個(gè)統(tǒng)一的政治實(shí)體了。
As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作為一個(gè)獨(dú)立的法律實(shí)體，公司必須納稅。