The American Revolution was not a revolution in the sense of a radical or total change.
美国革命其实并不算是一场革命，因为它并未导致完全的和彻底的变化。
It was not a sudden and violent overturning of the political and social framework, such as later occurred in France and Russia, when both were already independent nations.
这次革命并不是对政治和社会框架的一次突然和猛烈的颠覆——像后来在已经是独立国家的法国和俄国所爆发的革命那样。
Significant changes were ushered in, but they were not breathtaking. What happened was accelerated evolution rather than outright revolution. During the conflict itself people went on working and praying, marrying and playing. Most of them were not seriously disturbed by the actual fighting, and many of the more isolated communities scarcely knew that a war was on.
革命带来了重大的变化，但并非翻天覆地，所发生的只是进化的加速，而不是一场彻底的革命；在冲突期间，人们仍然上班、做礼拜、结婚、玩耍。多数人并没有受到实际战斗的严重影响。在许多较闭塞的社区对这场战争几乎一无所知。
America's War of Independence heralded the birth of three modern nations. One was Canada, which received its first large influx of English-speaking population from the thousands of loyalists who fled there from the United States. Another was Australia, which became a penal colony now that America was no longer available for prisoners and debtors. The third newcomer-the United States-based itself squarely on republican principles. Yet even the political overturn was not so revolutionary as one might suppose.
美国独立战争宣布了三个现代国家的诞生，其中一个是加拿大。加拿大的第一大批讲英语的流入人口来自于成千上万英王的效忠者，这些人从美国逃到了加拿大。另一个国家是澳大利亚，因为美国不再是容纳罪犯和欠债者的国度了，澳大利亚就变成了一个惩治罪犯的殖民地（注：独立战争前，英国政府将罪犯流放到美国）。第三个国家就是美国，它完全建立在共和原则基础上。即使政治上的颠覆也不如人们可能想象的那样具有革命性。
In some states, notably Connecticut and Rhode Island, the war largely ratified a colonial self-rule already existing. British officials, everywhere ousted, were replaced by a home-grown governing class, which promptly sought a local substitute for king and Parliament.
在一些州，特别是康涅狄格和罗德岛，战争基本上只是承认了已经存在的殖民地的自治。四处被驱逐的英国官员都被本土的统治阶级所替代，这个统治阶级迅速地以地方权力机关的形式来替代国王和议会。
英语词汇整理：
1. radical adj. 激进的，彻底的，基本的 n. 激进分子
eg: The country needs a period of calm without more surges of radical change.
这个国家需要一段平静的时期，不再有重大变化所引发的动荡。
短语：
free radical [化]自由基；游离基
sulfate radical 硫酸根
radical operation 根治手术
2. accelerate v. （使）加快，（使）增速
eg: Growth will accelerate to 2.9 percent next year.
增长明年将加快到2.9%。
词语用法：
accelerate的意思是“(使)加快; (使)加速”,可指(使)某事比预期的更快或更早发生,也可指(使)车辆或人加快速度。可用作及物动词,也可用作不及物动词。用作及物动词时,其宾语可以是具体名词,也可以是抽象名词,可用于被动结构。
3. disturb vt. 打扰，妨碍；使不安，使烦恼；弄乱
eg: I am sorry to disturb you.
很抱歉我妨碍到你了。
短语：
disturb in one's sleep 打扰某人睡眠
disturb with 用……搅动
disturb about 对……感到担忧
disturb at work 打扰某人工作
4. scarcely adv. 几乎不，简直不，刚刚，决不
eg: I can scarcely hear.
我几乎什么也听不见。
短语：
scarcely any 几乎没有
scarcely ever 几乎从不，极少
scarcely less 简直一样(简直相等)……
5. herald vt. 预示……的来临；宣布，欢呼 n. 信使；预兆
eg: One falling leaf heralds the coming of autumn.
一片落叶预示着秋天的来临。
The returning of the swallows are the heralds of the spring.
燕子归来预示着春天的来临。
短语：
international herald tribune 国际前锋论坛报
sydney morning herald 悉尼先驱晨报
6. loyalist n. （对统治者）效忠者
eg: Party loyalists responded as they always do, waving flags and carrying placards.
党的忠诚支持者们一如既往地以挥舞旗帜和高举海报作为回应。
短语：
loyalist force 效忠派
Loyalist College 皇家学院；皇家理工学院
7. squarely adv. 成方形地，成直角地，直接地，坚定地
eg: The responsibility lies squarely with them.
责任直接在于他们。
短语：
hit squarely 命中，击中
8. revolutionary adj. 革命的 n.革命者
eg: A revolutionary's life used to be beset with dangers and hardships.
一个革命者的生活中往往充满危险和艰难。
短语：
revolutionary leader 革命领袖
revolutionary committee 革命委员会
9. ratify vt. 正式批准，使正式生效
eg: The parliaments of Australia and Indonesia have yet to ratify the treaty.
澳大利亚和印度尼西亚议会还未批准该条约。
短语：
ratify anaccord 签署协议
ratify the arrest 批准逮捕
ratify and admire 认可与赞美
10. substitute n. 代用品，代替者 v. 代替，代以（for）；替代
eg: Water is not a proper substitute for wine.
水不是酒的适当代用品。
短语：
substitute for 用……代替……，(使)代替……
substitute as 代替为……
substitute by/with 用……代替……
佳句采摘：
It was not a sudden violent overturning of the political and social framework, such as later occurred in France and Russia, when both were already independent nations.
这次革命并不是对政治和社会框架的一次突然和猛烈的颠覆——像后来在已经是独立国家的法国和俄国所爆发的革命那样。
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