书城外语课外英语-美国各州小知识(三)(双语版)
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第7章 乔治亚州(1)

乔治亚州小档案:

人口:约900万

面积:约152,488平方公里,排名第21位

州府:亚特兰大Atlanta

乔治亚州,为纪念英王乔治二世King George Ⅱof England而得名。

1733年成为第13殖民地。1788年1月2日成为美国第4州。以“查拉几玫瑰花”Cherokee Rose为州花(查拉几是印地安人一个族名)。本州的别名是“桃州”Peach State或“南方帝国之州”Empire State of the South。本州箴言为“智慧、公平、温和”Wisdom,Justice and Moderation。

州府是亚特兰大Atlanta,位于本州北中部。飞机工业很发达。

乔治亚大学University of Georgia,创于1785年,在本州东北部雅典Athens。设在本州中部美昆Macon之惠斯阳学院Wesleyan College是全世界首先发给学位的女子学院。

本州特征有三:第一,它是美国密西西比河以东面积最大之州。同时也是独立之时13州中最偏南之州。第二,它是美国花生与大核桃Pecan产量最富之州。第三,它是美国首先使用轧棉机之州。

本州地势可分三区:(A)东南部是冲积平原区。它是大西洋沿海平原之一部。地势低平,面积占全州五分之三,有大沼泽。农业很发达。农产品中以花生为最重要,年产60多万吨。本区产桃子及大核桃。(B)中部是山麓高原,产棉甚富,年产量的约3万包。(C)本州东北角是丘陵区。这是阿帕拉契山地之最南端,其中最高峰有1千多公尺。本州丘陵区面积虽然不大,却出产名贵的白色大理石。产量之多,为各州冠。本州旅游业很盛,每年由州外之地来此游乐的人,花费多至4亿美元。

Introduction简介

Cherokee and Creek Indians lived in Georgia when Hernando de Soto,the Spanish explorer,first traveled parts of Georgia in 1540.By 1566,forts were built along the Atlantic coast,including the first in Georgia on St.Catherine’s Island.However,no permanent settlements were established.

In 1732,English King George II granted a charter for the last of the 13th colony in America.There were originally twenty one trustees(托管人,保管人)named in the 1732charter “The Trustees for Establishing the Colony of Georgia”.Over the period of the trusteeship(1732-1755),fifty more were added.

After obtaining a royal charter,Gen.James Oglethorpe established the first permanent settlement in Georgia in 1733as a refuge(庇护,避难所)for English debtors(债务人).In 1732,English King George II granted Gen.James Oglethorpe a charter for the 13th colony in America.Colonists arrived in Georgia and founded Savannah on Feb.12,1733as a refuge for English debtors.In 1742,Oglethorpe defeated Spanish invaders in the Battle of Bloody Marsh.

After the Revolutionary War began in 1775,Georgians joined in the fight for freedom.English troops captured Savannah((南美)大草原)and by the end of 1779had control of almost all of Georgia,until 1782.Georgia ratified the U.S.Constitution and became a state on Jan.2,1788.

Georgia’s population grew steadily from 1733,reaching around 40,000people in 1776.

The last statement in the Declaration of Independence,signed on July 4,1776,is “these United Colonies are…Free and Independent States”.At that time,however,the word “state”was equivalent(相等的,相当的,同意义的)to the word “nation”.Later,on January 2,1788,Georgia ratified the Federal constitution,and thus became the fourth state in the new nation of the United States of America.Georgia was also the third state to ratify the Federal constitution unanimously(全体一致地,无异议地).

Georgia didn’t actually have counties until 1777.Georgia was originally divided into districts and towns from 1732to 1758.From 1758to 1777,Georgia was divided into twelve parishes(教区).These twelve parishes became the original seven counties of Georgia,which include:Burke(St.George Parish),Camden(St.Thomas and St.Mary Parish),Chatham(St.Phillips and Christ Church Parish),Effingham(St.Matthew and St.Phillip Parish),Glynn(St.David and St.Patrick Parish),Liberty(St.John,St.Andrew,and St.James Parish),and Richmond(St.Paul Parish).Wilkes County was the eighth county created on February 5,1777in the Georgia Constitution;however,it was originally created on June 1,1773from the Treaty of Augusta(奥古斯塔(美国缅因州首府)),when Cherokee(切罗基族(北美易洛魁人的一支)人)and Creek Indians ceded the land.

Between 1790and 1830the population of Georgia increased six-fold.The western push of the settlers created a problem.Georgians continued to take Native American lands and force them into the frontier.By 1825the Lower Creek had been completely removed from the state under provisions of the Treaty of Indian Springs.By 1827the Creek were gone.By 1840,railroads expanded through the area and settlers quickly came to develop the land.

The invention of the cotton gin allowed cotton to became a major industry in Georgia.Slave labor was an important part of these huge cotton plantations.By 1860,many in the North wanted to abolish slavery.Shortly after Abraham Lincoln became president of the United States,Georgia withdrew from the Union and joined the Confederacy in 1861.

A Confederate stronghold(要塞,据点),Georgia was the scene of extensive military action during the Civil War.The Confederate Army won the first big battle in Georgia at Chickamauga Creek in 1863.However,union General William T.Sherman burned Atlanta and destroyed a 60-mile-wide path to the coast,where he captured Savannah((南美)大草原)in 1864.

The largest state east of the Mississippi with almost 100million in damage,Georgia lay in ruins.

During Reconstruction,Georgia was under military rule.The state constitution was rewritten,allowing blacks the right to vote.Georgians had to rebuild their cities and farms.On July 15,1870,Georgia was permanently readmitted to the Union with Atlanta as the state capital.

The early 1900s brought much industrial growth.Cotton continued to be grown,but production of corn,peaches,pecans([植]美洲山核桃树,美洲山核桃),and tobacco increased.Boll weevils([昆]象鼻虫)destroyed much of the cotton during the 1920s.The Great Depression(1929-1939)also caused many to lose their jobs and their land as factories closed and prices for crops fell.The federal government tried to help in 1933constructing roads and housing.Other programs helped farmers to keep their land.

In the Georgia House of Representatives,Viola Ross Napier of Bibb County was the first woman to take the oath(誓言,宣誓)of office in 1923,and served until 1926.She ran in the first election in which women were allowed to vote.Before running for office,she also became the first woman lawyer to argue a case before the Georgia Court of Appeals and was the first to argue before the Georgia Supreme Court.Additionally,Bessie Kempton Crowell of Fulton County served from 1923-1931.