THE HISTORY OF USA

• Why is studying American history important to understanding its culture?

When comes to topic of one country, it is best to start with its history. Each country has their own culture, distinguishing themselves from others around the world. The United States is the world’s largest economy and superpower. Its culture plays an important role in its achievement. Therefore, studying American history enables us to find out the key thing of its culture that motivates American to build their country into a great power in a relatively short time. Besides, while studying American history, we can get the idea of why they have such spirit that maybe is cultivated by certain or a few historic events. In addition, studying American history also can help us better understand what’s the American way of thinking, giving foreigners more information to do business with them, engage better with them, etc. Apart from these reasons have been listed, studying American history giving us a new angel of view to appreciate everything as an American, immersing ourselves in the US society, which give us a chance to think more deeper about American culture.

• Two traditional events of American history

American Revolutionary War（1775-1783）

As the British had been exploiting the colonies cruelly, the economic development of the North American colonies had been seriously hindered. In order to fight against the British, the North Americans rose up to fight.

The Gun of Lexington in April, 1775, heralded the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson, heralding the birth of the United States.

As Lenin said, "The history of modern, civilized America begins with a great, truly liberating, truly revolutionary war." American Revolutionary War was the first large-scale colonial war for national independence in world history. Its victory not only created a new civilized country, but also set a good example for the colonial wars of independence in Latin America.

American Civil War (1861-1865)

After the independence of the United States, the North and South developed along two different paths. In the North, the capitalist economy grew rapidly. However, in the South, the backward slavery system severely limited the development of northern commerce. Conflicts and struggles between the North and the South have become increasingly fierce since the beginning of the 19th century.

The war began with the Confederate shelling of Fort Sumter and ended with a Union victory. At first, the North fought to keep the country together. Later, it became a revolutionary war to eliminate slavery.

After the war, the United States achieved a true sense of unity. Although the direct purpose of the war was not to maintain the freedom of the black people, but in the process of the struggle between the North and the South, the black slavery eventually went to collapse.

Since then, the United States has established a relatively uniform economic form, for further economic development to remove obstacles.

• So what can we learn from these events about American culture?

American Revolution War explained how today’s United States was born. American Civil War showed the process of how the unification of the US turned out to be the disappearance of the slavery. Most of us have already known that America is a young country with its citizens calling for freedom all the time, and through these past events, why they pay much attention to the freedom is obviously understandable.

American culture was also derived from the American Revolution War or even earlier cause people fought for their country had already lived there for long periods of time. The spirit of fighting for ourselves’ freedom and the nation’s unity is still being praised today. The Civil War was one of the wars which were praised by Marx. It was a historical, progressive and revolutionary war in human history. Americans’ freedom in slavery was such a huge success that led to a society that calls for equal human rights.