|
|
距离2016年6月四级考试越来越近了，现在正是大家备考英语四级最好的时机。新东方网英语四级频道为大家整理了英语四级阅读每天一练，希望可以为大家带来帮助。
The Louisiana Purchase
On April 30, 1803, the area of the United States approximately doubled.
Until that time, United States territory had extended from the Atlantic Ocean to
the banks of the Mississippi and from the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River
to the thirty-first parallel. The national land now was expanded westward to
include practically all of the area between the Mississippi River and the Rocky
Mountains and between the Gulf of Mexico and the Canadian border. On that day,
for fifteen million dollars, the United States purchased from France 875,000
square miles of territory. After Robert R. Livingston, an American who
represented President Jefferson in France, signed his name to the treaty, he
rose, shook hands with James Monroe and Marbois, the Frenchman representing
Napoleon and remarked, "We have lived long, but this is the noblest work of our
lives. " As we glance backward upon this important event in history, we must
agree that the signing of the treaty for the purchase of Louisiana was probably
the most important event in Thomas Jefferson's administration. Without the
acquisition of this territory, the United States would most probably have not
developed into the powerful nation which it is today.
What Causes Led to Purchase of the Louisiana Territory
Until 1763, Louisiana had been a possession of France, but in that year it
was given to Spain to repay an old debt. Twenty years later in Paris, the treaty
ending the American Revolution was signed between the United States and Great
Britain. One of the terms of this treaty was that the western border of the
United States was to stretch to the Mississippi River. Immediately settlers and
pioneers crossed westward over the Allegheny Mountains to clear the territory
and establish farms. Since roads were scarce and difficult to travel, the
products of these farmers had to be shipped on the waterways leading to the
Mississippi River and then down this great stream to New Orleans. At this port
city, the produce was transferred to larger ocean-going vessels and transported
to markets on the Eastern Seaboard or to Europe. However, Spain's ownership of
both shores of the river for at least two hundred miles north of New Orleans
permitted this foreign nation to control the trade moving on the Mississippi. As
a monarchy (君主政体) ，the Spanish government distrusted the rising spirit of
democracy in the United States, especially the much freer expression of
democracy that existed among the western farmers. This distrust of democracy
resulted in the desire of the Spanish to deny the use of the great river to any
Americans. The reaction was instantaneous (瞬间的 ) and furious, western farmers
raised their voices to protest and the United states sent John Jay to Madrid to
discuss this matter. In 1795 this conflict was settled. Spain consented to allow
citizens of the United States the right to use the lower Mississippi River and
also the "right of deposit" at New Orleans, the right of deposit permitted
American farmers, without a duty charge, to remove their products from smaller
boats at New Orleans after having navigated down the Mississippi, and then to
transfer the agricultural commodities to larger ocean-going vessels.
For the succeeding five years this agreement was observed and little
conflict existed. On October 1, 1800, however, Spain signed a treaty giving the
ownership of the Louisiana territory back to France. The news of this treaty did
not reach Jefferson until May of the following year. As soon as he became aware
of the change in ownership of the territory, Jefferson realized that this was
part of a plan by which Napoleon hoped to establish France as a great power in
the New World. Although Napoleon still permitted Spain to remain in control of
the port of New Orleans, the future threat to the navigation rights of the
western farmers still remained. At any moment, Napoleon might send troops to the
"Gateway" and forbid Americans to use it for navigation. This would affect
almost forty per cent of the total export trade of the United States. By April
1802 Jefferson's concerns in this matter became even more intense. Napoleon had
shipped armed forces to Santo Domingo to suppress the uprising. Once this had
been accomplished, the troops were under orders to take possession of Louisiana
with its key port city of New Orleans. On the eighteenth of that month the
President wrote his now-famous letter to the American Minister to France, Robert
R. Livingston.
There is one place on the globe, one single spot, the possessor of which is
our natural and habitual enemy. It is New Orleans through which the produce of
three eighths of our territory must pass to market. . . it seals the union of
two nations who in conjunction can maintain exclusive possession of the ocean.
From that moment we must marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation.
Seven months later Jefferson learned that the Spanish officials at New
Orleans had suspended(暂不实行) the right of deposit. Immediately western
farmers protested. Many demanded immediate action. Others pressed for a
declaration of war. The Federalists in the East who opposed Jefferson sided with
those who wished to declare war, in order to split the ranks of his followers.
In January 1803, Congress appropriated two million dollars "to defray (支付)
expenses to help improve relations between the United States and foreign
nations. " Jefferson asked James Monroe to sail for France to resolve the
difficulty. Monroe was instructed to negotiate for the purchase of New Orleans
and Florida. He was permitted to offer 50,000,000 francs for this concession of
territory. If this offer were refused, then an alternative offer of 37,500,000
francs was to be made for New Orleans alone. A third alternative to be used in
the negotiation was to insist upon the permanent right of deposit at New Orleans
and navigation along the lower Mississippi. If all three offers were rejected by
Napoleon, Monroe and Livingston were instructed to negotiate an alliance with
the British Government "not to make any peace with France. "
Why Napoleon Sold Louisiana
Events favored the United States. Napoleon had transported 35,000 troops to
wipe out the rebellion in Santo Domingo, but yellow fever and the rebels did
away with most of the French troops. With this disaster Napoleon's visions of
expanding in the mainland at New Orleans vanished. He also recognized he
inevitability of a conflict with Great Britain. How could he hope to keep
Louisiana, thousands of miles away across the Atlantic, as long as Britain was
"Empress of the Seas"? The revenue that the sale of Louisiana would bring to
France was a temptation to Napoleon, whose treasury was almost depleted
(消耗). Confronted with so many problems Napoleon quickly arrived at a decision.On
April 11, 1803, even before the arrival of Monroe in Paris, Talleyrand proposed
that the United States purchase all of the Louisiana territory.Livingston's
first offer for this "bargain" was 20, 000, 000 francs, but Talleyrand countered
with a demand for 125,000,000. In a brief negotiation both finally compromised
on 80,000,000 francs, equivalent to $ 15,000,000 in
American money. On April 30, 1803, Louisiana became the possession of the
United States. Three-fourths of the sum went to France, the balance was reserved
to pay the claims of American citizens against France.
1. The passage gives a general description of the reasons for and the
effect of the Louisiana purchase.
2. The purchase of Louisiana helped the U. S. to grow into the powerful
nation which it is today.
3. The Louisiana purchase only expanded the territory of the U. S. .
4. The rising spirit of democracy in the U. S. was introduced to Spain and
France instantaneously.
5. The purchase of Louisiana was accomplished at a much lower price than
originally intended.
6. Spain was the original possessor of the Louisiana territory.
7. Livingston's eloquence persuaded Marbois to accept an unreasonably low
price for the Louisiana territory.
8. Louisiana was sold to the U. S, for______francs.
9. The Federalists in the East of U. S. were in favor of declaring war on
Spain because they wished to______of President Jefferson's followers.
10. When Louisiana was purchased, the export trade moving on the
Mississippi accounted for___of the total export trade of the U. S. .
答案：1. Y 2. Y 3. N 4. N 5. Y 6. N 7. NG 8. 80,000,000 9. split the ranks 10.
40% |
|
发表于 2016-7-11 18:45:47