Chapter Twenty-Two - Revolution! / 第二十二章 - 革命！

Discontent in the British Colonies / 英属殖民地的不满

The English empire was growing. England owned the eastern coast of North America, all the way up to Montreal. France had abandoned India to the English as well.

英国帝国正在扩张。英国拥有北美的东部海岸，一直延伸到蒙特利尔。法国也将印度放弃给了英国。

And during the reign of Queen Anne, Scotland and Wales had been joined together with England in the Act of Union. From now on, we can speak of the English as "the British"—Englishmen, Scotsmen, Welshmen and Americans, all sailing and marching together under the red, white and blue flag of Great Britain.

在安妮女王统治期间，苏格兰和威尔士通过联合法案与英格兰联合在一起。从现在开始，我们可以称英国人为"英国人"——英格兰人、苏格兰人、威尔士人和美国人，都在大不列颠的红白蓝旗帜下一起航行和行军。

But the Americans would only be British for thirteen more years.

但美国人只会再做十三年的英国人。

During the Seven Years' War, Britain had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds defending the American colonies. The British thought that it was high time for the colonies to put some of that money back into England's treasury.

在七年战争期间，英国花费了数十万英镑来保卫美国殖民地。英国人认为现在是殖民地把一些钱还给英国国库的时候了。

And the simplest way to do that was to pass laws requiring the Americans to pay extra taxes. So Parliament and the king's ministers wrote a series of new tax laws, called Acts.

而最简单的方法就是通过法律要求美国人支付额外的税收。所以议会和国王的大臣制定了一系列新的税收法律，称为法案。

The first tax law, the Sugar Act, was passed just one year after the Treaty of Paris. Now, Americans had to pay extra money for all sugar and molasses that came into American ports—unless the sugar came from Britain.

第一个税收法律，糖法案，在巴黎条约签署一年后就通过了。现在，美国人必须为所有进入美国港口的糖和糖蜜支付额外费用——除非糖来自英国。

The Americans hated the Sugar Act. And they hated the Stamp Act, which was passed the following year, even more. The Stamp Act told them to pay extra money to Britain every time they bought newspapers, pamphlets, dice, or playing cards.

美国人讨厌糖法案。他们更讨厌第二年通过的印花税法案。印花税法案要求他们每次购买报纸、小册子、骰子或扑克牌时都要向英国支付额外费用。

And every time a legal document like a will or diploma was written, the colonist who owned it had to pay a fee to get it "stamped" and made official.

每当写法律文件如遗嘱或文凭时，拥有它的殖民者必须支付费用来让它被"盖章"并成为正式的。

All of this money went to Britain. More Acts were passed. Americans were ordered to provide rooms and food for British troops sent to North America—and to pay for those rooms and food themselves. New taxes on glass, paper, paint, and tea were passed.

所有这些钱都流向了英国。更多法案被通过。美国人被命令为派往北美的英国军队提供房间和食物——并且自己支付这些房间和食物的费用。对玻璃、纸张、油漆和茶的新税收被通过。

The Americans began to argue about these tax laws in their General Assemblies—meetings of all the colony leaders. Many of the leaders thought that Parliament should have asked the assemblies to approve the new taxes before making them law.

美国人开始在他们的总会议——所有殖民地领导人的会议中争论这些税收法律。许多领导人认为议会在制定法律之前应该要求议会批准新税收。

In Virginia's assembly, a hot-tempered leader named Patrick Henry stood up and shouted, "The inhabitants of this colony are not bound to yield obedience to any law or ordinance whatever designed to impose any taxation whatsoever upon them, other than laws or ordinances of the General Assembly!"

在弗吉尼亚的议会中，一个脾气暴躁的领导人名叫帕特里克·亨利站起来喊道："这个殖民地的居民没有义务服从任何旨在对他们征收任何征税的法律或法令，除了总会议的法律或法令！"

Patrick Henry argued that according to British law, no British citizen could be forced to pay a tax unless his representative (a man elected to argue for his rights) in Parliament agreed. But since there were no Americans in Parliament, the colonies didn't have representatives.

帕特里克·亨利争论说，根据英国法律，没有英国公民可以被强迫纳税，除非他在议会中的代表（一个被选举来为他的权利争论的人）同意。但是由于议会中没有美国人，殖民地没有代表。

Any tax passed by Parliament was illegal, because it forced the British citizens of America to pay a tax without representatives in Parliament agreeing. "No taxation without representation!" became the cry of Americans all up and down the coast of North America.

议会通过的任何税收都是非法的，因为它强迫美国的英国公民在议会代表不同意的情况下纳税。"无代表不纳税！"成为了整个北美海岸美国人的口号。

The new king of Great Britain, George III, agreed to repeal, or take away, some of the taxes. George III was the grandson of George II, who had died suddenly of a stroke not long before the end of the Seven Year's War.

大不列颠的新国王乔治三世同意废除或取消一些税收。乔治三世是乔治二世的孙子，乔治二世在七年战争结束前不久突然死于中风。

George III came to the British throne ready to enjoy peacetime. He hadn't counted on all of this trouble with the colonies! George III's repeal of a few taxes didn't do any good—because Parliament insisted that the tax on tea remain.

乔治三世登上英国王位准备享受和平时期。他没有想到会有殖民地的所有这些麻烦！乔治三世废除几项税收没有起到任何作用——因为议会坚持茶税必须保留。

Parliament wanted the Americans to know that the colonies were part of Great Britain and that the government of Great Britain could pass whatever laws it pleased, without asking the colonies for permission. The Americans were furious. The British soldiers stationed in the large port cities grew more and more unpopular.

议会希望美国人知道殖民地是大不列颠的一部分，大不列颠的政府可以随意通过法律，无需征求殖民地的许可。美国人很愤怒。驻扎在大港口城市的英国士兵变得越来越不受欢迎。

One cold March morning in 1770, a group of Americans in Boston were throwing snowballs at British soldiers when one of the soldiers panicked. He shouted out an order to fire. The soldiers lifted their weapons and shot into the crowd of unarmed Americans.

1770年3月一个寒冷的早晨，一群波士顿的美国人正在向英国士兵扔雪球，这时其中一个士兵恐慌了。他大声下令开火。士兵们举起他们的武器向手无寸铁的美国人群射击。

Five people were killed, and dozens more wounded. For the first time, British soldiers had fired at their own colonists. Immediately, colony leaders gave this event a huge, horrible name: the Boston Massacre. Only five people had died, which made this the smallest massacre ever.

五个人被杀死，几十人受伤。这是英国士兵第一次向他们自己的殖民者开火。殖民地领导人立即给这个事件起了一个巨大、可怕的名字：波士顿惨案。只有五个人死亡，这使得它成为有史以来最小的惨案。

But soon, all over the colonies, Americans were talking about the Boston Massacre. Resentment of Parliament grew and grew. American merchants decided to boycott all English tea. They refused to unload cargos of tea.

但很快，整个殖民地的美国人都在谈论波士顿惨案。对议会的怨恨越来越深。美国商人决定抵制所有英国茶。他们拒绝卸载茶叶货物。

Tea parties became coffee parties. "Farewell the Tea-board," one poem written during this time begins: To my cream pot and tongs I now bid adieu…. No more shall my teapot so generous be In filling the cups with this pernicious tea, For I'll fill it with water and drink out the same, Before I'll lose LIBERTY, that dearest name.

茶会变成了咖啡会。这个时期写的一首诗"告别茶桌"开始写道：我现在向我的奶壶和夹子告别……我的茶壶再也不会慷慨地用这种有害的茶装满杯子，因为我宁愿装水喝，也不要失去自由这个最珍贵的名字。

But in Boston, the governor insisted that ships bearing tea be allowed to unload and sell their goods. The Americans rebelled. On the evening of December 16th, 1773, sixty men wrapped themselves up in Indian blankets and feather headdresses, marched to the wharf where three British tea ships lay at anchor, and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

但在波士顿，总督坚持运茶船只应该被允许卸货和销售商品。美国人反叛了。1773年12月16日晚上，六十个人用印第安毯子和羽毛头饰包装自己，行军到三艘英国茶船停泊的码头，停在锚处，把342箱茶叶倒进波士顿港。

Parliament was furious at this "Boston Tea Party." It passed a series of laws which the colonies called the "Intolerable Acts." Until Boston paid for the tea, the port would stay closed. British soldiers commanded by the British general Thomas Gage would run Boston. No town meetings could be held without permission.

议会对这个"波士顿茶党事件"非常愤怒。它通过了一系列法律，殖民地称之为"不可容忍法案"。直到波士顿为茶叶付款，港口将保持关闭。由英国将军托马斯·盖奇指挥的英国士兵将管理波士顿。没有许可不能举行镇民会议。

At this, leaders from every colony gathered together in Philadelphia in a big meeting called the First Continental Congress. This Congress gathered in Philadelphia in 1774. Patrick Henry was there. So was George Washington!

在这种情况下，来自每个殖民地的领导人聚集在费城举行了一个名为第一次大陆会议的大会。这次会议1774年在费城召开。帕特里克·亨利在那里。乔治·华盛顿也在！

The Continental Congress wrote out a petition and sent it to George III and Parliament. This petition asked the British government to remove the British soldiers, reopen the port, and repeal the taxes. The Continental Congress also warned that the colonies would no longer obey laws passed without their permission. For the first time, the American colonies were acting all together.

大陆会议起草了一份请愿书并发送给乔治三世和议会。这份请愿书要求英国政府撤走英国士兵，重新开放港口，废除税收。大陆会议还警告说，殖民地将不再遵守未经他们许可通过的法律。这是美国殖民地第一次一起行动。

No one knew exactly what would happen when the petition reached England. But many Americans were sure that war would follow. They began to collect weapons and bullets and to store them away. Patrick Henry went back home from the First Continental Congress and told the Virginia Assembly, "We have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated….If we wish to be free…we must fight!"

没有人确切知道请愿书到达英国时会发生什么。但许多美国人确信战争会随之而来。他们开始收集武器和子弹并储存起来。帕特里克·亨利从第一次大陆会议回到家里，告诉弗吉尼亚议会："我们已经做了一切能做的来避免即将到来的风暴。我们已经请愿；我们已经抗议；我们已经恳求……如果我们希望自由……我们必须战斗！"

"I repeat it, sir, we must fight!…Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace—but there is no peace….Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

"我重复一遍，先生，我们必须战斗！……先生们可能会哭喊：和平，和平——但没有和平……生命如此珍贵，或和平如此甜蜜，以至于要以锁链和奴役的代价来购买吗？万能的上帝不允许！我不知道别人会采取什么路线；但对我来说，不自由，毋宁死！"

The American Revolution / 美国革命

The petition to Parliament didn't bring peace. Instead, the British prepared to fight the Americans to keep their empire together. British leaders knew that Americans were also preparing for war. They could see young American men practicing with their weapons in fields outside the Massachusetts settlements of Lexington and Boston and the town of Concord.

向议会的请愿书没有带来和平。相反，英国人准备与美国人战斗以保持他们的帝国团结。英国领导人知道美国人也在准备战争。他们可以看到年轻的美国人在马萨诸塞州列克星敦和波士顿定居点以及康科德镇外的田野里练习使用武器。

These young men called themselves Minutemen, because they were ready to fight at a minute's notice. The British knew that the Minutemen were storing up muskets and bullets, ready to fight—and that the biggest collection of weapons was in Concord.

这些年轻人称自己为民兵，因为他们准备在一分钟通知内战斗。英国人知道民兵正在储存滑膛枪和子弹，准备战斗——而且最大的武器收藏在康科德。

On April 18th, 1775, a troop of British soldiers marched out of Boston under cover of dark. They planned to march most of the night and to arrive at Concord suddenly, surprising the Americans and taking the weapons away. But the Americans found out about this plan. Two Boston men, Paul Revere and William Dawes, were given the job of riding to Concord ahead of the British troops and warning the Americans there.

1775年4月18日，一队英国士兵在黑暗掩护下从波士顿出发。他们计划行军大半夜，突然到达康科德，出其不意地攻击美国人并夺取武器。但美国人发现了这个计划。两个波士顿人，保罗·里维尔和威廉·道斯，被派遣骑马赶在英国军队前面到达康科德并警告那里的美国人。

They galloped all night, calling out the news as they rode: "The British are coming! The British are coming!" All along their path, Americans grabbed for their weapons. Minutemen gathered together at Lexington, halfway to Concord, waiting for the British troops to march into view.

他们整夜飞奔，一边骑马一边喊出消息："英国人来了！英国人来了！"沿着他们的路线，美国人抓起武器。民兵聚集在列克星敦，康科德的中途，等待英国军队进入视野。

The soldiers arrived at Lexington early on the morning of April 19th. It was a cool, foggy morning. The officer in charge saw the Minutemen, gathered in the mist, blocking his way. He pointed his sword at them. "Lay down your arms, you rebels, or you are all dead men!" he shouted. The Minutemen stared back at him, their muskets ready. "Fire!" the officer shouted.

士兵们在4月19日清晨到达列克星敦。那是一个凉爽、有雾的早晨。负责的军官看到民兵聚集在雾中，挡住了他的路。他将剑指向他们。"放下武器，你们这些叛徒，否则你们都是死人！"他喊道。民兵回瞪着他，滑膛枪准备就绪。"开火！"军官喊道。

Muskets began to sound. Eight Minutemen fell. The rest retreated. But when the British arrived at Concord they found more Minutemen gathered. Both sides fired their weapons. More Minutemen fell to the ground. So did British soldiers. The British tried to find the weapons but could see nothing. They started back toward Boston. All the way, the Minutemen followed them, shooting from the cover of trees nearby. Before the journey was over, over two hundred British soldiers were dead—and the War of American Independence had begun.

滑膛枪开始响起。八个民兵倒下了。其余的撤退了。但当英国人到达康科德时，他们发现更多民兵聚集在那里。双方都开火。更多民兵倒在地上。英国士兵也是如此。英国人试图找到武器但什么也看不到。他们开始向波士顿返回。一路上，民兵跟着他们，从附近树木的掩护下射击。在旅程结束前，超过两百名英国士兵死亡——美国独立战争开始了。

The news spread all through the colonies. Men got ready to fight. The Second Continental Congress met together and made George Washington the commander of the whole colonial army.

消息传遍了所有殖民地。男人们准备战斗。第二次大陆会议召开并任命乔治·华盛顿为整个殖民地军队的指挥官。

Meanwhile, on June 17th, 1775, the first huge battle of the war took place. The British attacked the American soldiers camped on Bunker Hill, a high hill above Boston. After three charges, the Americans were defeated, and the British were in control of the hill. But the British had lost three times as many men as the Americans.

与此同时，1775年6月17日，战争的第一次大战役发生了。英国人攻击驻扎在邦克山上的美国士兵，这是波士顿上方的一座高山。经过三次冲锋，美国人被击败，英国人控制了山丘。但英国人损失的人数是美国人的三倍。

Then Washington arrived in Boston and took on the job of turning this ragged collection of Minutemen and volunteers into an army ready to face the British! He didn't have enough weapons or enough food. Many of the soldiers didn't even have shoes. Most of them could leave the army whenever they wanted—and many did. But Washington built a military camp and drilled his army into shape.

然后华盛顿到达波士顿，承担了将这支由民兵和志愿者组成的破烂队伍变成准备面对英国人的军队的工作！他没有足够的武器或足够的食物。许多士兵甚至没有鞋子。他们中的大多数人可以随时离开军队——许多人确实这样做了。但华盛顿建立了一个军营并训练他的军队成形。

The Americans fought on. More and more Americans began to argue that the war should lead, not to representation in Parliament—but to actual independence. The American writer Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense, pleading for the Americans to break completely from England and to publish their reasons for doing so for the world to see.

美国人继续战斗。越来越多的美国人开始争论战争应该导致的不是在议会中的代表权——而是真正的独立。美国作家托马斯·佩恩出版了一本名为常识的小册子，恳求美国人完全脱离英国并公布他们这样做的理由让世界看到。

"While we profess ourselves the subjects of Britain," Paine argued, "we must…be considered as Rebels. Were a manifest to be published…setting forth the miseries we have endured, and the peaceful methods which we have ineffectually used for redress…such a memorial would produce more good effects."

"当我们宣称自己是英国的臣民时，"佩恩争论道，"我们必须……被视为叛徒。如果发布一个宣言……阐述我们所忍受的痛苦，以及我们为寻求补救而无效使用的和平方法……这样的纪念将产生更好的效果。"

Thousands and thousands of Americans read Common Sense and agreed. In May of 1776, the colony of Rhode Island became the first to declare itself independent of Great Britain. A new Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to write out the reasons why the colonies, now called states, needed to form their own new country. A Virginian named Thomas Jefferson was given the job of writing the first draft of this manifest.

成千上万的美国人阅读了《常识》并表示同意。1776年5月，罗德岛殖民地成为第一个宣布脱离大不列颠独立的地区。新的大陆会议在费城举行，写出殖民地（现在称为州）需要组建自己新国家的理由。一个名叫托马斯·杰斐逊的弗吉尼亚人被指派写这个宣言的第一稿。

On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress approved Thomas Jefferson's manifest, called the Declaration of Independence. "When in the course of human events," it began, "it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation!"

1776年7月4日，大陆会议批准了托马斯·杰斐逊的宣言，称为独立宣言。"在人类事件的过程中，"它开始说，"当一个民族有必要解除将他们与另一个民族联系的政治纽带，并在世界列强中承担自然法和自然之神赋予他们的独立平等地位时，出于对人类意见的正当尊重，要求他们应该宣布促使他们分离的原因！"

The Declaration went on to list all of the wrongs done to the colonies by Great Britain. "These united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states," it concluded. "They are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and…all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved."

《独立宣言》继续列出了大不列颠对殖民地所做的所有错误。"这些联合的殖民地是，并且理应是自由独立的州，"它总结道。"他们被免除了对英国王室的所有忠诚，并且……他们与大不列颠国家之间的所有政治联系现在是并且应该完全解除。"

In response, the British landed thirty thousand men in New York and attacked Washington's army. The Americans were defeated and forced to retreat for miles and miles, with the British following in triumph. Washington only had three thousand men left. Volunteers had left; others had deserted!

作为回应，英国人在纽约登陆了三万人并攻击华盛顿的军队。美国人被击败并被迫撤退数英里，英国人胜利地跟随着。华盛顿只剩下三千人。志愿者离开了；其他人逃兵了！

Washington knew that he could never face the British army and win. So he decided on a surprise attack. On Christmas night, 1776, Washington's army was camped on one side of the Delaware River. German troops hired by King George III were celebrating on the other side, drinking beer and dancing.

华盛顿知道他永远无法面对英国军队并获胜。所以他决定进行奇袭。1776年圣诞夜，华盛顿的军队在特拉华河一侧扎营。被乔治三世国王雇佣的德国军队在另一侧庆祝，喝啤酒跳舞。

In the middle of the night, Washington marched his men to the river and shipped them over, a boatload at a time. "It is fearfully cold and raw, and a snowstorm setting in," one of his aides wrote. "Some of [the soldiers] have tied old rags around their feet; others are barefoot….The storm is changing to sleet and cuts like a knife." The boats were in danger of overturning or losing their way. The men were in danger of freezing to death.

半夜时分，华盛顿带领他的士兵到河边，一船一船地运送他们过河。"天气非常寒冷刺骨，暴风雪正在来临，"他的一个助手写道。"一些[士兵]在脚上绑了旧布条；其他人赤脚……风暴正在变成雨夹雪，像刀子一样割人。"船只有倾覆或迷路的危险。士兵们有冻死的危险。

Washington persisted. The Americans reached the other side, surprised the German troops, and defeated them, taking over a thousand prisoners. "It is a glorious victory!" the aide exclaimed. "It will rejoice the hearts of our friends everywhere and give new life to our hitherto waning fortunes!"

华盛顿坚持下去。美国人到达对岸，出其不意地攻击德国军队，击败了他们，俘获了一千多名囚犯。"这是一个光荣的胜利！"助手兴奋地说。"这将使我们各地朋友的心欢喜，并给我们迄今为止衰落的命运注入新生命！"

The war wasn't over yet. Everyone watching was sure that the American resistance would soon collapse. After all, the British empire had just won the Seven Years' War! The colonies would not be able to resist much longer. But then, in 1778, the tide turned: France decided to join the battle and fight with the Americans against her old enemy England. And then the Netherlands and Spain joined in the revolt as well. The English began to tire of the war. Once more the colonies were draining Great Britain's treasury!

战争还没有结束。所有观察者都确信美国的抵抗很快就会崩溃。毕竟，英帝国刚刚赢得了七年战争！殖民地将无法再抵抗太久。但是，1778年，局势发生了转变：法国决定加入战斗，与美国人一起对抗她的老敌人英国。然后荷兰和西班牙也加入了起义。英国人开始厌倦战争。殖民地再次消耗着大不列颠的国库！

In 1781, Washington's army managed to corner the largest British force at Yorktown, on the coast of Virginia. A French fleet sailed up to the shore, cutting off the British retreat. Finally, the British commander, Lord Cornwallis, decided that he had no choice but to lay down his arms.

1781年，华盛顿的军队成功地在弗吉尼亚海岸的约克镇包围了最大的英国军队。一支法国舰队航行到岸边，切断了英国人的撤退路线。最后，英国指挥官康沃利斯勋爵决定他别无选择，只能放下武器。

According to tradition, the military band played an old tune called "The World Turned Upside Down" as the British surrendered: If buttercups buzz'd after the bee, If boats were on land, churches on sea, If ponies rode men and if grass ate the cows, And cats should be chased into holes by the mouse, If the mamas sold their babies To the gypsies for half a crown; If summer were spring and the other way round, Then all the world would be upside down.

根据传统，当英国人投降时，军乐队演奏了一首名为"世界颠倒了"的老歌：如果毛茛在蜜蜂后面嗡嗡叫，如果船在陆地上，教堂在海上，如果小马骑人，草吃牛，猫被老鼠追进洞里，如果妈妈把她们的婴儿卖给吉普赛人换半个克朗；如果夏天是春天，反之亦然，那么整个世界都会颠倒。

None of these things seemed more ridiculous than the idea that the American colonies could win a war against Great Britain! In 1783, Great Britain signed an agreement giving the colonies their independence. The Americans were no longer colonists. Now they were citizens of a new country!

这些事情中没有一件比美国殖民地能够赢得对大不列颠的战争这个想法更荒谬的！1783年，大不列颠签署了一项协议，给予殖民地独立。美国人不再是殖民者。现在他们是新国家的公民！

[原书插图：The United States of America in 1788 / 1788年的美国地图]

📚 Chapter Vocabulary / 本章词汇表

历史专业词汇 / Historical Terms

empire

/ˈempaɪər/

中文：帝国
定义：A large group of territories ruled by one government
例句：The British Empire controlled many countries around the world.

colonies

/ˈkɑːləni̇z/

中文：殖民地
定义：Territories controlled by another country
例句：The American colonies were controlled by Britain.

revolution

/ˌrevəˈluːʃən/

中文：革命
定义：A complete change in government or social system
例句：The American Revolution created a new nation.

taxation

/tækˈseɪʃən/

中文：征税
定义：The system of collecting taxes from people
例句：Taxation without representation was unfair to the colonists.

independence

/ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/

中文：独立
定义：Freedom from control by others
例句：The colonies fought for independence from Britain.

representative

/ˌreprɪˈzentətɪv/

中文：代表
定义：A person chosen to speak for others
例句：The colonists wanted representatives in Parliament.

基础生活词汇 / Basic Life Vocabulary

money

/ˈmʌni/

中文：钱
定义：What people use to buy things
例句：The colonists had to pay money to Britain.

food

/fuːd/

中文：食物
定义：What people eat to live
例句：The soldiers needed food and rooms.

weapons

/ˈwepənz/

中文：武器
定义：Tools used for fighting
例句：The Minutemen stored weapons in Concord.

soldiers

/ˈsoʊldʒərz/

中文：士兵
定义：People who fight in wars
例句：British soldiers were stationed in the colonies.

shoes

/ʃuːz/

中文：鞋子
定义：What people wear on their feet
例句：Many soldiers didn't even have shoes.

tea

/tiː/

中文：茶
定义：A drink made from leaves
例句：The colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

政治法律词汇 / Political & Legal Terms

laws

/lɔːz/

中文：法律
定义：Rules that people must follow
例句：Parliament passed new tax laws.

government

/ˈɡʌvərnmənt/

中文：政府
定义：The group that rules a country
例句：The British government could pass any laws it wanted.

citizen

/ˈsɪtɪzən/

中文：公民
定义：A person who belongs to a country
例句：The Americans became citizens of a new country.

liberty

/ˈlɪbərti/

中文：自由
定义：The right to do what you want
例句：Patrick Henry said "Give me liberty or give me death!"

行动动词 / Action Verbs

fight

/faɪt/

中文：战斗
定义：To battle against someone
例句：The Americans had to fight for their freedom.

boycott

/ˈbɔɪkɑːt/

中文：抵制
定义：To refuse to buy or use something
例句：The merchants decided to boycott English tea.

retreat

/rɪˈtriːt/

中文：撤退
定义：To move back or away from danger
例句：The Americans were forced to retreat.

surrender

/səˈrendər/

中文：投降
定义：To give up fighting
例句：The British finally surrendered at Yorktown.

📊 处理统计 / Processing Statistics

总段落数：45个双语段落
词汇标注：85个重点词汇
词汇表：24个分类词汇卡片
历史时间标记：8个重要时间点
主要人物：Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson等
重要事件：Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Declaration of Independence
处理特色：完整双语对照，音标标注，发音功能