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Segment 4a: Introduction.
4a章節，簡介
The United States grew rapidly
美國在革命戰爭后
after the Revolutionary War.
發展迅速
It met several challenges in its first half century
在頭半世紀之間遭遇了許多挑戰
some of which it handled well.
其中有一些應對得還是不錯的
For example the procedure for
比如說，允許一些
admitting new states to the Union.
新的州加入聯邦這個過程
Some of these challenges it met terribly
可是有些挑戰卻處理得很糟糕
such as the forced relocation of the American Indians.
比如說美國印第安人的強制安置
Sadly what turned out to be
令人失望的是
the biggest challenge of all was the one that
美國遇到的最大的挑戰
the founders had dodged;
也是建國之父們都回避了的一個問題
the issue of human slavery.
那就是奴隸制
In segment 4b the Northwest Ordinance
在4b章節，西北法令中
we examine a political decision
我們可以看到一次政治決策
which was crucial to the vitality of the United States.
它對于美國力量的壯大至關重要
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
1787年的西北法令
allowed the admission of new states to the Union
允許新州加入聯邦
on a fully equally basis with the existing states.
這些州和原有的州享有平等的權利
Any new territory acquired by the United States
美國獲得的任何一片新領土
would not become a colony,
都不會成為殖民地
would not become a province,
也不會成為一個省
instead new territory would be
新的領土將會
fully integrated on an equal basis.
完全平等地融合進來
The Louisiana Purchase of 1803
雖然1803年路購置
even though its constitutionality was doubtful
路易斯安那州的憲法性受到質疑
nearly doubled the new nation's size.
但它幾乎使美國美國國土面積翻了一番
Thanks to the Northwest Ordinance
多虧了西北法令
it was settled for the most part in an orderly manner.
大部分地區依然井然有序
Yet America remained hungry for more land
但是美國依然渴望更多的土地
causing in part the War of 1812.
這是導致1812年戰爭的部分原因
Once the bombs had finished bursting in air
后來當炸彈和
and the torpedoes had been fully damned
魚雷都被人們所憎恨時
the United States made a peace with Great Britain
美國就和英國停戰講和
which has lasted to this day.
直到今日
In segment 4c, the Monroe Doctrine America
在4c章節的門羅主義中
becomes entangled in foreign affairs.
美國陷入了外交事務中
Spain's American empire had fallen by 1815
西班牙的美利堅帝國在1815年徹底瓦解
and this presented the United States with a dilemma.
這卻讓美國陷入了左右為難的境地
The rise of Central and South American republics
中美和南美共和國的崛起
where Spain once ruled
也就是西班牙曾經統治的那些地區
was a tribute to the American experiment.
就成為了美國的試驗品
The new republics wanted not only
新的共和國不僅需要
American recognition but American aid.
美國的承認，還需要美國的援助
But Spain was still strong and interested
但是西班牙勢力依然強大
in recapturing her old American empire.
而且非?？释匦聤Z回美利堅帝國
Soon France and Russia started making noises
很快，法國和俄國開始造勢
about helping Spain retain its empire.
要幫助西班牙奪回帝國
Despite the War of 1812
盡管經歷了1812年戰爭
Britain sided with the American republics
英國站到美國一邊
against its fellow monarchies.
共同抵抗君主制度
They suggested joining with America
他們召集大家加入美國
to protect the new republics' sovereignty.
一起保護新合眾國的國家主權
President James Madison was conflicted
詹姆斯·麥迪遜總統曾經歷戰爭
but his Secretary of State John Quincy Adams
但是他的國務卿昆西·亞當斯
persuaded him to take on this
勸他參與到
particular foreign entanglement.
這一次外交糾葛中去
Under the so-called Monroe Doctrine
在所謂的門羅主義指導下
the United States unilaterally,
美利堅合眾國單方面的
and that means on its own,
也就是意味著它自己
forbade other nations to intervene with
禁止了其他國家干預
sovereign North or South American countries.
美國北部和南部的主權事務
Segment 4d, Trails of Tears
4d章節，血淚之路
introduces the United States's shabby treatment
介紹了美國對
of its Native American or Indian population.
美國印第安人的卑鄙手段
Once the trickle of Americans
當一小部分美國人
settling west of the Appalachians
在阿巴拉契亞山西部安頓下來后
had turned into a flood
隨之就涌入了一大群人
the white Americans decided to clear the Indians out.
美國白人決定要把印第安人趕走
Even though many Indians,
雖然許多印第安人
most notably the Cherokee sought to strike a balance
尤其是切羅基族人希望
between tribal ways and living as Americans
在部落生活和美國人生活取得平衡
the Indian Removal Act of 1830 meant to
但是1830年的印第安人遷移法
drive all Indians west of the Mississippi.
旨在把所有印第安人驅逐到密西西比河以西
A particular low light was
其中一個非常卑鄙的行徑是
the Trail of Tears of the 1830s
19世紀30年代的，血淚之路
in which thousands of Choctaw and Cherokee
數以萬計的喬克托族和切羅基族人
were forced to walk from Georgia to Oklahoma.
被迫從喬治亞遷移到俄克拉荷馬州
A decade later the Mormons were effectively
10年過后，摩門教徒也被
driven out of the Midwest
成功地從中西部驅逐出去
and forced to begin their great series of treks
被迫開始了最大規模的
from the Midwest to Utah.
從中西部到猶他州的艱苦跋涉
