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Significantly the constitutional convention
這里不得不說，制憲會議史無前例地
established a unique and complicated balance
完成了權利的三分，并且在
of powers between the executive, legislative
行政權，立法權和司法權三者之間
and judiciary branches. The plan for
實現了獨特而復雜的平衡
the United States government was truly
美國政府的組成可謂充滿了藝術性
a work of art, but how well would it work?
但是它在實踐中表現究竟會如何?
President Washington and foreign entanglements;
對于華盛頓總統和外國政府來說
on March 4th, 1789 the United States government
美國政府正式上臺是在1789年3月4日
officially took power. There was really only
其實當時的總統競選者就只有一個人
one candidate for President, George Washington.
那就是喬治華盛頓
Some Americans wanted to name Washington King,
一些美國人想要奉華盛頓為國王
or name him dictator, but to his eternal credit
或者讓他成為獨裁者，但他的偉大之處
George Washington had said farewell to Kings.
正是在于他讓這個國家擺脫了君主制度
Unanimously selected by the Electoral College
在獲得了總統競選團的一致投票表決后
Washington was inaugurated as President on
華盛頓作為總統在1789年4月30日
April 30th, 1789. In 1792 he was unanimously
正式上任，并且在1792年再次經過
awarded a second term. Although Washington's
投票表決得到連任，盡管華盛頓此前的
only work experience was as a surveyor,
身份僅僅是一個測量員，農場主
planter and army officer his wise leadership
和軍隊指揮官，但正式他卓越的領導力
contributed greatly to the new country's success.
為這個新興國家的建立做出了巨大的貢獻
He organized a national government,
他在職期間建立了國家政府
he developed policies for settlement of territory
在過去屬于英國和西班牙的土地上
held by Britain and Spain at one time and
推行了大量發展政策
he stabilized America's north western frontier
并且平定了美國的西北邊境
otherwise known as the North-West Territory.
當時還那里還是所謂的"西北地區"
He presided over the admission to the union
他在得到聯邦許可后曾經在3個
on completely equal terms of 3 new states;
新成立的州內進行過任期相同的管理
Vermont, 1791, Kentucky, 1792 and Tennessee,
分別是1791年在佛蒙特 1792年在肯塔基
1796. Finally in his farewell address
1796年在田納西，在他的告別辭中
Washington demonstrated great diplomatic insight
華盛頓也展現了卓越的外交洞察力
by advising that the United States, quote
因為他那時候就明確建議美國
'steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion
"避免同任何外國簽訂永久的同盟"
of the foreign world' end quote.
"避免同任何外國簽訂永久的同盟"
Washington's experience in the 7 years war
華盛頓經歷過7年戰爭
which was fought on North American soil
這場在北美土地上打響的戰爭
because of the disagreements of European powers
源頭正是歐洲列強之間的矛盾和摩擦
had soured him on getting involved with
這使他厭倦與歐洲人打交道
the Europeans. The French Revolution of 1789
而1789年法國大革命的爆發
presented Washington with the dilemma;
也使得華盛頓深陷進退兩難
America owed a great debt of gratitude
一方面美國是應該對路易16世國王
to King Louis the 16th for his personal support
抱有強烈的感激之情，因為他曾經給予過
yet American sympathy lay strictly with
美國重要的援助，但是美國人的同情
the Revolutionaries. Wisely the United States
僅限于提供給革命分子，因此他們明智地
maintained strict neutrality. Although
選擇了保持中立，盡管華盛頓
Washington never spoke the precise words
從來沒有明確表達過
'avoid foreign entanglements' so often
但是不要過多地牽扯到國際爭端中
attributed to him examination of his printed
是后人在閱讀他的《告別辭》時
farewell address shows that the phrase
可以明顯讀出來的意味
well explains his approach yet Washington
這也極好地解釋了他的外交政策
realized also that America could not just stick
當然華盛頓也意識到美國不能
its head in the sand. For one thing
對外界完全不聞不問，一方面
the United States had borders with British
美國與英屬加拿大殖民地
colonies in Canada, French colony in Louisiana
法屬路易斯安那殖民地
and Spanish colonies Florida and Mexico.
西班牙屬殖民地佛羅里達和墨西哥都接壤
Overseas issues also proved troublesome;
另一方面，國外形勢也是困難重重
dealings with the Barbary pirates of North Africa
他們要與北非的巴巴里海盜對峙
caused the United States, even during
即便是在華盛頓就任總統期間
Washington's presidency to pay tribute.
他們也沒有少給這些海盜送上貢品
