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The French had been following developments
法國人一直都很關注這些英屬殖民地的
in the British colonies. They were delighted,
發展，因此我們也可以理解他們對于
understandably, by the birth of this new nation
這個北美新興國家的成立感到
in North America. French intellectuals were
無比高興，法國知識分子對于
thrilled by the slap in the face to
這個事件給英國帶來的打擊和
an entrenched monarchy, take that.
恥辱都感到興奮不已，事實就是這樣
The entrenched French monarchy was thrilled
法國的君主政體認為這個事件
by the opportunity to play catch up with
是讓他們能夠趕超英國的絕好機會
Great Britain. Already France was sending
因此他們也一直都在向美國的
supplies to the American revolutionaries.
革命分子提供各種物資供給
American envoy, Benjamin Franklin,
美國的全權公使本杰明富蘭克林
played upon these feelings to obtain in 1778
也借助法國的這種心理，于1778年
a tree of alliance, friendship and commerce
促成了美國與法國之間同盟有好
between America and France. Shortly after that
商業合作關系，在此之后不久
Britain declared war on France. In 1779
英國就宣布與法國開戰 1779年
Spain considered supporting the Americans
西班牙也開始考慮對美國反抗英國的
against the British, the Spanish hated the British too,
行為進行支持，西班牙也怨恨英國
but they declined out of fear for their
但是他們出于對其北美帝國的恐懼
North American empire. Finally the British
此前并沒有采取行動，后來英國
declared war on the Netherlands in 1780 because
又在1780年與荷蘭開戰，因為荷蘭
the Dutch continued to trade with the Americans.
一直都沒有中斷與美國的貿易往來
Harassed in North America by rebellious colonials
于是英國在北美要面對移民的武裝叛亂
and French expiditionaries, threatened in Europe
以及法國的征軍，另一方面在歐洲還要
by a French, Spanish, Dutch alliance
面臨法國，西班牙和荷蘭盟軍的夾擊
the British were struggling against great odds.
此時的英國可謂深陷重重危機
The Americans had started the American
盡管美國已經進入了大革命時期
Revolution as under dogs but over time
也不得不受到各方條件的支配
European political entanglements helped give
但歐洲方面的政治拉鋸的確為
the continentals a fighting chance.
大陸軍的喘息和重新作戰提供了條件
Segment 3D; building on our beginnings
第3D章，從零開始
'Anuit Coapthes'. On October 19th, 1781
Anuit Coapthes 。1781年10月19日
the main British army in North America
英國在北美作戰的主要兵力
surrendered to the Americans at Yorktown.
在約克城向美軍投降
The redcoats were well trained and well equipped,
英國軍隊的確訓練有素，裝備精良
so were the mercenaries the British hired to
英國方面的雇傭軍在與美軍交戰時
help fight the Americans but the Redcoats
也毫不遜色，但是不管是英軍
and the mercenaries were no match for
還是雇傭軍都閉不上衣衫襤褸的
the ragged continentals who were fighting
大陸軍，因為他們是在自己的土地上
on their home soil, amidst their families
與自己的家人并肩作戰
for a clear principle; a nation which would
他們目標明確--建立一個能夠保證
ensure them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
他們生存，享有自由和追求幸福的權利的國家
Early in 1782 Britain initiated peace talks.
1782年年初，英方開始主張和平對話
On September 3rd, 1783 America and
1783年9月3日，美國與英國
Great Britain signed the treaty of Paris
簽訂了《巴黎條約》
acknowledging the independence, sovereignty
英方正式承認了北美13個殖民地
and freedom of the 13 former colonies;
獨立于英國并享有自身主權和自由
now the 13 states. The new nation's boundaries
成為了美國的13個州，這個新國家
were Canada, Florida which had been given
北臨加拿大，南抵歸還給西班牙的
back to Spain, the Atlantic Ocean and
佛羅里達，西畔太平洋
the Mississippi River. On June 20th, 1782
東至密西西比河 1782年6月20日
congress approved the great seal of
國會通過了美國國璽的設計方案
the United States. Included on the new nations
在美國的國璽之上印有拉丁語
great seal was the Latin motto 'Anuit Coapthes',
Anuit Coapthes的字樣
he, she, it, whatever, has approved of our efforts.
意在表明世界萬物都已經承認了美國的成立
This was done to acknowledge
這個設計也是為了表達對
the new nations blessed start.
這個新興國家有一個好開始的祝福
Unlike the English language which requires
跟英語不同，英語當中每個動詞
that a subject or subject pronoun be used
都需要由主語或代詞式主語引導
for every verb; I have approved,
比如說我承認
you have approved, he, she, it has approved,
你承認，他 ，她，它承認
we have approved, Latin does not.
我們承認等等，拉丁語則不同
A Latin speaker would not be bothered
拉丁語并沒有硬性要求
by a verb appearing without a subject.
每個動詞都要帶有一個主語
A Latin speaker would assume that
對于拉丁語使用者來說
the subject of the verb, Anuit, would be God,
Anuit作為動詞的主語時可以是上帝
providence, lady luck or what have you.
是天意，是好運氣或是一切
