Part 1 Social Life 社会生活
01 The Articles of Confederation 邦联条例
During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress wrote the Articles of Confederation. These were meant to give the colonies some sense of a unified government. However, once the thirteen colonies became thirteen states, each one began to act alone in its own best interest. In order for these new states to act together, a new governing document was needed. In September 1786, delegates from Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware met in Annapolis, Maryland. At the Annapolis Convention, these delegates discussed states’ rights. Recognizing the need for a
stronger central government, they recommended that a convention be held with the purpose of changing the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitutional Convention of May 1787 was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Delegates from 12 of the 13 states were present. The state of Rhode Island refused to send a delegate because it was afraid of losing its states’ rights. For 4 months, the delegates worked behind the closed doors of the statehouse to draft a new document, which would be known later as the Constitution.
Vocabulary 词汇
continental ['kɔnti'nentəl] adj. 大陆的、大陆性的、欧洲大陆的
colony ['kɔləni] n. 殖民地、聚居地、聚居的同类人、（动植物的）群体、集群
document ['dɔkjumənt] n. 公文、文件、文献；
vt. 证明、记录、记载
convention [kən'venʃən] n. （某一职业、政党等的人士召开的）大会、习俗、协议
Practice
Circle the letter of the correct answer for each question.
1．When did the Continental Congress write the Articles of Confederation?
a．before the Declaration of Independence b．after the Revolutionary War
c．during the Revolutionary War d．after the Constitution
2．Which state refused to send a delegate to the Constitutional Convention?
a．New York b．Rhode Island
c．Maryland d．Georgia
3．City in which the Constitutional Convention was held?
a．Rhode Island b．Philadelphia
c．Annapolis d．Maryland
4．Which was NOT a concern of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
a．to discuss states’ rights
b．to create a stronger central government
c．to create a weaker central government
d．to save the Articles of Confederation
译文
在美国革命战争期间，大陆会议起草了《邦联条例》。这些条例使殖民地的民众对统一政府有了一定的概念。尽管如此，一旦13个殖民地成为13个州，各个州都只顾自己州的利益。为了使这些州团结一致，就需要一个崭新的政府。在1786年9月，来自马里兰、纽约、新泽西州、维吉尼亚州、宾夕法尼亚州和特拉华州的代表聚集在马里兰的安纳波利斯。在安纳波利斯会议上，代表们就各个州的权利进行了讨论。在建立一个强有力的中央政府的问题上达成一致，他们还建议在此次会议上对《邦联条例》进行修改。
1787年5月，在宾夕法尼亚州费城举行的制宪会议上，有13个州的12位代表出席，罗得岛州因害怕失去州的权利而拒绝参加。在四个月内，代表们在州议会的议场，秘密起草了一份新的文件，这份文件就是后来为大家所熟知的宪法。
练习
在正确的答案前面打勾。
1．大陆会议什么时候起草了邦联条例？
a．在独立宣言之前 b．在革命战争之后
c．在革命战争期间 d．在宪法制定之后
2．哪个州拒绝参加制宪会议？
a．纽约 b．罗得岛 c．马里兰 d．乔治亚州
3．制宪会议在哪个州举办？
a．罗得岛 b．费城 c．安纳波利斯 d．马里兰
4．以下哪项是代表们在制宪会议上不关心的？
a．讨论各个州的权利 b．建立一个强有力的中央政府
c．建立一个无能的中央政府 d．保留邦联条例
1．c 2．b 3．b 4．c