2. 职称英语
  3. The belief that American expansion westward and southward was inevitable and

The belief that American expansion westward and southward was inevitable and

游客2023-09-11  25
问题     The belief that American expansion westward and southward was inevitable and just was first called manifest destiny by a Democrat, the newspaperman John L. O’Sullivan. The annexation(兼并) of Texas, O’Sullivan wrote in 1945, was" the fulfillment of our yearly multiplying millions. "Americans had thought similarly for decades, but during the 1840s they used expression to hurry the inevitable process along and to justify war and threats of war in the quest for more territory.
    Americans had been hungry for new lands ever since the colonists first turned their eyes westward. Agrarian(农业的) Democrats saw the west as remedy for urbanization and industrialization. Enterprising Whigs looked to the new commercial opportunities the West offered. Both parities reflected the popular mood as the proportion of Americans living west of the Appalachians grew from one-quarter to one-half between 1830 and 1860.
    A fierce national pride also pushed the quest for western laud. North or South, Whig or Democrat. Americans were convinced that theirs was the greatest country on earth, with a special rule to play in the world. What better evidence of such a role cold there be than expansion from coast to coast?
    Americans also idealistically believed that westward expansion would extend American freedom and democracy. The occupation of new territory, they reasoned, would bring the benefits of America’s republican system of government to less fortunate people. Of course such idealism was selfish, and it contained an undercurrent of racism as well. Indians were perceived as savages best removed from their homes east of the Mississippi and Central and South Americans were also seen as inferior peoples, fit to be controlled or conquered. Thus the same racism that justified slavery in the South and discrimination in the North supported expansion in the West.
    Finally, the expansionist fever of the 1840s was fed by the desire to secure the nation from perceived external threats. Expansion, some believed, was necessary to preserve American independence. [br] The author’s attitude towards westward expansion is ______.
选项 A、strongly condemning
B、mildly criticizing
C、indifferent
D、supporting
答案 A
解析 文中提到美国的idealism是自私的，与altruistic(利他的)正相反。
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